Gerard Pique: I consider the Spanish national team my family

Gerard Pique insists he will not bring his Spain career to a premature end despite facing criticism from fans following Catalonia's independence referendum. Barcelona defender Pique was whistled at and jeered as he took to the field during a public training session in Madrid ahead of Spain's final World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Israel, after the Catalan voted in the referendum on Sunday.

Gerard Pique

Speaking at a press conference ahead of Friday's Albania clash, 2010 World Cup winner Pique said: "To leave now would give reason to those who whistle and make them happy but I don't think that they are the majority in Spain. I won't give them that luxury because I want to turn this around and my teammates are also in favour of me staying. "I don't want to leave through the back door because this team and the whole federation are my family and I want to continue for them. I've been here since I was 15, I consider this a family and I'm very proud to be in the Spanish national team, so it hurts me when my commitment is doubted."