Gerard Pique has had an offer to play for free at Barcelona turned down by management.

The veteran defender has agreed to waive the outstanding wages he is owed after deferring part of his salary for the past two years.

Sport says Pique, knowing Barca are still struggling to balance the books and register new signings, has agreed to return to his original contract terms before signing a new, improved deal during Josep Maria Bartomeu's reign.

The deal will continue to 2024, but Pique will now be paid the same terms he was on before the previous arrangement had been settled, which had included promised deferred wages to be paid over the coming two years.

During negotiations, Pique even offered to play for free, but this was turned down. The defender has forgiven a huge amount of money owed by the club over the past two years to assist their cash problems.