Two hundred and fifty GRAVES found on Barcelona star Gerard Pique's property

Two hundred and fifty graves have been found on one of Gerard Pique's properties in Spain.

The Barcelona defender, who is known for having several business interests outside of football, has invested in a project to build a luxury hotel in Malaga.

Pique spent around $20m (£17.7m) to purchase the property located on the Costa del Sol.

However, the project has ground to a halt after hitting an unexpected snag.

According to Spanish publication Marca, 250 graves have been found on the property.

Studies will now need to be carried out to determine what century the graves are from.

"We have excavated about 250 tombs, of which the vast majority are empty," archaeologist Alberto Cumpian explained to Hoy por hoy Malaga.

"Possibly, the tombs were never used, and are not valuable enough to be preserved.

"It is one of the largest necropolises in the country."

Cumpian added that there were not expected to be any further delays once the graves had been studied and that Pique's hotel project would be able to resume in early 2023.

Hundreds of graves have been found on a piece of land Pique owns (Image: Alamy)

Pique is clearly planning for his life after his retirement from football.

The 35-year-old is under contract with Barcelona until the summer of 2024 but there has been talk of the defender leaving the cash-strapped Catalan club before the end of his deal.

Pique has lost his place in the Barcelona starting line-up but remains one of the highest-paid players at the club.

According to reports in Spain, the veteran defender is said to be considering his future and could seek a move away from the Nou Camp in the January transfer window.

Gerard Pique is under contract with Barcelona in the summer of 2024 (Image: Alamy)

If a move fails to materialise, Barcelona are said to be hoping that Pique will announce his retirement at the end of the 2022-23 season to avoid paying him his salary for another campaign.

Despite the reports claiming Pique could leave the Nou Camp, the former Spain international has said he intends to retire at Barcelona.

Speaking in 2021, Pique said: "The day I feel that I can't help Barca anymore, I will retire."