Barcelona defender Gerard Pique and his ex-girlfriend Shakira are said to have recruited attorneys to help them deal with the fallout from their split.
Pique, 35, and Columbian pop sensation Shakira, 45, released a joint statement on Saturday confirming their 11-year relationship was over.
“We regret to confirm that we are parting,” Shakira’s public relations firm said in a statement. “We ask that you respect our privacy for the sake of our children’s safety, which is our first priority. Please accept my sincere gratitude for your patience.”
Milan, nine, and Sasha, seven, are Pique and Shakira’s children.
Pique and his family live in Barcelona, where he has been a member of the city’s world-famous soccer team since 2008.
According to Informalia, Pique’s contract with the club is up in two years, but Shakira does not want to stay in Barcelona.
As a result, a custody battle over their children is likely, and it is thought to be high on both sides’ lawyers’ to-do lists.
Despite the fact that Pique and Shakira never married, they amassed a sizable joint fortune throughout their time together.
According to Informalia, this might be worth around €700 million, with laywers tasked with properly splitting the riches.
Pique first met Shakira in 2010, as she was promoting her FIFA World Cup song “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).”
Pique, a Spain international, appeared in the music video for that legendary song.
