Gerard Pique and Shakira at an event. File

Gulf Today Report

Colombian pop star Shakira and her partner, Spanish soccer player Gerard Piqué, are splitting up, the pair said on Saturday.

"We regret to confirm that we are separating,” the two said in a statement released by Shakira’s public relations firm.

"For the well-being of our children, who are our highest priority, we ask that you respect our privacy. Thank you for your understanding.”

The couple have two children, Sasha and Milan.

It seems that doubts have taken a toll at the Barcelona star, who is accused of cheating on her, as revealed by Spanish newspapers and websites.

Pique and Shakira, along with former England star David Beckham and pop singer Victoria Adams, are the most famous sports-art duo, so their personal lives receive a lot of media attention.

According to the Spanish website El Periodico, Shakira knew that Pique had betrayed her again, so they have not appeared together since last March, either in public or even on social media.

According to El Periodico, Pique was seen with a young blonde girl several times.

The girl is believed to be in her 20s. 

She is a student and an event hostess in Barcelona.

Her identity has not been made public yet.

Rumours say the ‘woman turned out to be the mother of young Barcelona star Pablo Gavi. Gavi is unaware of the incident.”

The site termed it as "Emotional Crisis," and revealed that "Shakira knew of Pique's relationship with another woman, and they will separate soon."

Pique now lives alone in an apartment in Barcelona.

Jennifer Lopez and Shakira perform during an event.

Pique and Shakira's relationship began during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, after the Colombian singer, of Lebanese origin, performed the official song of the tournament. They two children are Milan and Sasha.

Although they were not together permanently except at sporting and family events, their relationship did not witness this deterioration, as happened in the last two months.

Shakira spent a family vacation on the island of Ibiza with her two children but without Pique.

The split now comes with both Shakira and Piqué facing their own legal troubles.

Shakira is facing a potential court trial on tax fraud charges in Spain. Prosecutors accuse her of failing to pay 14.5 million euros ($15.5 million) in taxes on income earned between 2012 and 2014.

She has denied any wrongdoing and her public relations firm says that she has paid back all that she owed.

Piqué, for his part, has been implicated in a probe by Spanish state prosecutors looking into the contracts behind the hosting of the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Audios leaked to Spanish media point to a company run by Piqué having received commissions worth several million euros (dollars) for his part in taking the tournament to the Middle Eastern kingdom. Piqué denies any wrongdoing or a conflict of interest despite having played in the Super Cup.

Piqué has also launched several other business initiatives while remaining a leading soccer player in Spain. Spanish sports media view him as a future president of Football Club Barcelona once his playing career concludes.