Gerard Pique has spoken about the new chapter in his life following his split from Shakira (Picture: Getty/Instagram)
Gerard Piqué has spoken out for the first time following reports that he cheated on Shakira.
The Hips Don’t Lie singer, 45, announced last year that her relationship with the footballer, 35, was over after more than a decade together.
After meeting in 2010 when she filmed a music video for World Cup anthem, Waka Waka, they dated for 11 years and welcomed sons Milan and Sasha together.
Alas, it wasn’t meant to last, but Piqué has said he’s ‘very happy’ despite their bitter split and rumours he was unfaithful.
The sporting star is now dating girlfriend Clara Chia Martí, 23, with whom he went Instagram official with in January, while Shakira has released three tracks seemingly addressing her break-up.
Piqué, who announced his retirement from soccer in November, spoke to Spanish newspaper El Pais recently about the changes in his personal life.
The couple went their separate ways last year after 11 years together (Picture: Scott Heavey/Getty Images)
‘It is about protecting them,’ the athlete told the outlet in reference to his children.
‘That is the job of all parents with children. That is what I am focused on and that is my job as a father.’
On infidelity claims, he added: ‘The day I die, I will look back and hope I have always done what I wanted.’
Piqué said that he wants ‘to be faithful to’ himself regarding major life decisions and no longer places value on public opinion.
The footballer said he’s no longer concerned with what other people think (Picture: David Ramos/Getty Images)
Piqué and Shakira welcomed sons Milan and Sasha together (Picture: James Devaney/Getty Images)
‘The problem is how people perceive things or how the press packages it,’ he continued.
‘I’m still doing what I want. I’m not gonna waste money on cleaning up my image.’
Instead, Piqué is ‘putting energy on the people closest’ to him.
‘The people that I love and worry about are the people that know me. The rest, I don’t care. I’m very happy. There’s been changes in my life and I’ve known how to preserve that happiness.’
Shakira has appeared to throw shade at ex Piqué and his new flame since the went their separate ways, in her record-breaking tunes.
Piqué said he’s ‘very happy’ now (Picture: Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
In her collaboration with Bizarrap on their tune titled BZRP Music Session #53, Shakira sang: ‘Sorry baby, I should have thrown you out a while ago / A she-wolf like me is not for rookies / A she-wolf like me is not for guys like you / I’m too good for you, and that’s why you’re with someone just like you.’
Later in the tune, the star seemed to reference Clara’s age: ‘I wish you luck with my supposed replacement / I don’t even know what happened to you. I’m worth two of 22 [year old] / You traded a Ferrari for a Twingo / You traded a Rolex for a Casio / You’re going fast, slow down / Lots of time at the gym, but your brain needs a little work too.’
Shakira – who previously revealed that her separation was ‘the darkest hours of [her] life’ – has also spoken publicly about how parting from Piqué affected her.
‘There is a place in hell reserved for women who don’t support other women,’ Shakira said in an interview with NMás, seemingly alluding to her ex’s new lover.
He went Instagram official with new girlfriend Clara Chia earlier this year, following infidelity claims (Picture: Instagram)
The star continued to say her break-up had ‘strengthened’ her, after she admitted to being ’emotionally quite dependent on men’ in the past.
Now she is ‘sufficient on her own’, as the singer explained: ‘I now feel complete because I depend on myself.’
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‘I also bought that story, that a woman needed a man to complete herself,’ the Spanish star confessed.
‘You don’t achieve all your dreams in life but life has a way of compensating you and I think life has certainly done it with me with the marvellous two children I have who fill me with love every day.’
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He and Shakira split last year after 11 years together.