The absence of Barcelona defender Gerard Pique from this week's dinner party for Leo Messi has been explained.

The PSG star was back in the city where he had dinner with several former teammates and Barca coach Xavi, though Pique was missing.

Journalist Lluís Canut explained on Esport3: "The relationship has deteriorated, as far as I know, as a result of the last renewal of Piqué's contract when the reduction was made, this hurt Messi and he felt disappointed, I would not want to use the word betrayed but yes he felt cheated by Piqué, because he did not do it until Messi was out of Barça and Messi interprets that this action should have been done before he left to try to prevent his departure.

"And that they did not raise any eyebrows until he left it was because the club couldn't pay his contract.

"This has been recorded by Messi on some WhatsApp. I had the opportunity to see one, a former leader of the previous board of directors. A WhatsApp from Messi to a former leader, where he expressed his discomfort and disappointment with Piqué as if they had left him alone and in the lurch."