Gerard Pique's silent contract renewal with Barcelona

Arturo Canales is not just Gerard Pique's agent. Defining the relationship between them as just that would be to simplify what they have had together when they started working with each other, when the centre back was just a youngster in La Masia.

Canales is his agent but also his friend and partner in various projects away from football. When Pique was at Manchester United, Arturo told him Barcelona wanted him back. "Don't listen to anything else, I'll go to Barcelona whatever the price," Pique said.

Something similar happened with this renewal. Pique didn't just sign any old thing but he didn't put up a single problem to stop the negotiations happening quickly and with absolute discretion. The defender has no intention of playing for another side. 

Since November the operation has been taking place, with little time taken to reach an agreement which was announced on Thursday without many details from the negotiations coming to light, meaning it happened almost by surprise for those outside the club.

Arturo worked quietly without putting anything through the media. He has worked like this with Ivan Rakitic too, Last summer he also took Sergi Palencia on board.