Shakira Asks Piqué to Travel to Miami for Children's Well-being

Colombian artist Shakira and former footballer Gerard Piqué met this Tuesday in a Barcelona courthouse to address a key aspect of their separation agreement: the visitation schedule for their children, Milan, 13, and Sasha, 11. The singer has expressed her desire for Piqué to take on most of the travel to Miami, where the children reside with her since April 2023.

According to a statement accessed by El País, Shakira's intention is not to reduce the time the children share with their father. Her main concern is that the burden of travel between Miami and Barcelona, where Piqué lives, should not fall solely on them. The proposal suggests that during short holiday periods, Piqué should travel to Miami. This would prevent the minors from making constant transatlantic trips, which involve significant time zone adjustments and disrupt their daily lives.

Children's well-being is the priority

The central argument of Shakira's request is the protection of the children's “emotional, physical, and academic well-being.” The singer aims for Milan and Sasha to maintain their school, social, and family routines in Miami for longer periods. This approach aligns with the intention to preserve and respect the children's privacy, an aspect the artist has emphasized in her petition.

The former couple ratified their separation agreement before a judge in Barcelona in December 2022, just a few months after announcing their split in June of that same year. However, the current travel dynamics have led to the need for a review of this agreement. Lawyers for both parties negotiated until the last moment to try to avoid a trial, with the intervention of the judge and the prosecution, as explained by Ramón Tamborero, the former footballer's lawyer, to La Vanguardia, also cited by El País.

A 12-year relationship and an uncertain future

Shakira and Piqué met in 2010, shortly before the World Cup in South Africa. Their relationship lasted 12 years, and they had two children: Milan, born on January 22, 2013, and Sasha, who arrived on January 29, 2015, both in Barcelona. In 2017, Shakira told the Italian edition of Vanity Fair that Piqué encouraged her not to abandon her music career when she considered retiring to dedicate herself fully to motherhood.

After their separation in 2022, child custody was a central point of the legal battle. At that time, Shakira sought to establish herself in Miami to advance her music career, while Piqué wanted to remain in Barcelona for his sports career. Ultimately, it was agreed that the children would live with the singer, and Piqué would be free to visit them, covering his own expenses.

Other projects of the protagonists

The day Shakira announced a new date for her concert residency in Madrid, Piqué, along with streamer and entrepreneur Ibai Llanos, revealed a new investment round of 3,750,000 euros in Plesh, a chocolate snack brand launched in 2024, in which the former footballer had previously invested, according to El País.

Why it matters

The dispute over travel between Miami and Barcelona highlights the logistical and emotional challenges faced by families with separated parents residing on different continents. The court's decision will directly impact the lives of Milan and Sasha, setting a precedent for how parental time and responsibilities are managed in high-profile public situations.