MADRID, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona confirmed on Thursday that central defender Gerard Pique has extended his contract with the club until the end of June 2022.

Pique, who will celebrate his 31st birthday in February, has agreed a deal which places his buyout clause at 500 million euros, although he has stated on several occasions that he has no intention of leaving the Camp Nou and that his aim is to end his career with the club.

Pique has so far mad 421 appearances for Barca in all competitions and scored 37 goals.

Meanwhile Barca received good news about the injury which forced midfielder Paulinho out of Wednesday night's King's Cup defeat away to Espanyol.

Paulinho limped out of the game in the second half and it was feared he could have broken a bone in his foot, but tests carried out on Thursday have ruled that possibility out and there is a chance he could be fit for Sunday's league game away to Betis.