Gerard Pique's turbulent week in the press has been capped, after reports suggested he had split up with long-time partner and pop star Shakira.

The Barcelona defender is believed to have ended his relationship with the Colombian superstar, according to Spanish website Cotilleo.

Various reports in Shakira's home nation had suggested that a break had been on the cards for a few months now, but a source close to Shakira apparently informed Cotilleo that she had "confirmed the seperation" in recent days.

The decision to end their relationship is the latest blot in a difficult week for Pique, who has had to deal with the huge fallout from the recent Catalonia independence referendum.

The couple have two children -- Milan, four, and Sasha, who is two -- but it would be expected that Pique will be allowed to continue seeing his children if he and Shakira eventually split.