Gerard Pique says he won't outstay his welcome at Barcelona.

The veteran defender insists he'd rather retire than become a regular reserve.

He told El Pais: "I will retire at Barça. That is for sure. What I will not accept is to retire as a substitute. See, if it's the last three months of a season and it's my turn, well, well. But a whole year on the bench? No, I don't feel like it."

Pique admits he still doesn't understand why Lionel Messi was allowed to leave for PSG. Pique was among senior players who had agreed to major pay-cuts to help the club fund Messi's new contract.

He continued: "I understand numbers but the Fair Play issue is difficult for me to understand. I don't know. Me, I feel with the president and it is clear yes I have to reach an agreement because otherwise you cannot sign up a transfer. And I think that if Leo was renewed the numbers would be very complicated ... I don't know if it was feasible or not with everyone making a monumental effort.

"I don't have the information."