Gerard Piqué calls out Espanyol for Kings League format exhibition match

Gerard Piqué, the former FC Barcelona and Spain defender and current organizer of the 7-a-side football tournament, the Kings League, has called out his former rival RCD Espanyol for an exhibition match over the Christmas break. 

In a video posted on social media laden with subtle digs at the professional football team, Piqué invited the péricos to take part in a Kings League format match, with a €1 million purse going to the winner. 

Piqué is preparing for the Kings World Cup Nations tournament in early January, which will be held in Turin, Italy, among national teams of Kings League players. As such, he has invited his Spain team to take on Espanyol in early January for preparation. 

In the video, he considered Espanyol, a team in the top division of La Liga, "a rival of our level." The Kings League is organized by former footballers and influencers, and recruits players from lower divisions to play for its clubs. 

The former Barça defender also signs off the letter with references to Cornellà and El Prat de Llobregat, the location of the blanquiazules' stadium, outside the city limits of Barcelona.

Espanyol play Valencia at home on Wednesday night in a fixture rearranged from when the floods hit Valencia in October, before the Catalan side takes on Las Palmas this weekend. After that, they won't play another game until January 11 when they face Leganés at home.