Barcelona defender Gerard Pique said on Wednesday that he considered quitting the Spanish national team following criticism of his views on the Catalan independence referendum, but decided against it.

Pique, who said quitting would play into the hands of his detractors, was jeered in an open training session with Spain on Monday.

He had broken down in tears on Sunday following the violent incidents in his home region as police tried to prevent would-be voters from taking part in the banned referendum.

The defender, who voted on Sunday, suggested then that he would be open to walking away from international football if coach Julen Lopetegui or his teammates felt uncomfortable with his presence.

He said on Wednesday, however, that he was fully committed to the team.

"I considered it (quitting the Spain team) but in the end you have to evaluate every option and after thinking about it for a long time that I decided not to as leaving now would be letting the people who insult me win," Pique told a news conference