Pique 'signed' Rakuten for Barcelona

Josep Maria Bartomeu praised Gerard Pique on Wednesday, after revealing the defender 'helped the Barcelona family', by introducing the club to new shirt sponsor, Rakuten.
Last season's La Liga winners announced that the Japanese electronics company will replace Qatar Airlines as their main brand starting July 1, 2017.
Pique, who has his own video games business, came to know Hiroshi Mikitani, who is the founder of Rakuten and he organised a meeting between the Japanese entrepreneur and Barcelona which set the wheels in motion for this mega deal.
It has already been suggested that the centre-back could one day become club president, and he later admitted the role is something he would relish in the future.
In terms of leadership, the former Manchester United defender is the unofficial fourth captain in the wake of Xavi's departure.
While the role has been given to the more discreet and less controversial, Javier Mascherano, Pique acts as the mouthpiece of the dressing room and is now becoming a leader on and off the pitch.