Gerard Pique has announced his retirement from Barcelona. Via Twitter, the 35-year-old center defender reports in an emotional farewell video that he will play his last game in the Spotify Camp Nou next Saturday. In the thirteenth round of LaLiga, Barcelona will meet Almeria on Saturday.
The announced farewell comes as a big surprise, as the defender still has a contract that would bind him to Barcelona until 2024. Where Pique was allowed to start most matches as a basic player last season, he usually has to settle for a reserve role this football year. His current situation may have an impact on his decision, as he said earlier this calendar year in conversation with podcast maker Jordi Wild “will stop playing football” if he “does not add anything to Barça”.
Culers, us he de dir una cosa. pic.twitter.com/k3V919pm1T
— Gerard Pique (@3gerardpique) Nov 3, 2022
“I have something to tell you,” the Catalan writes above the emotional video that he shared on social media on Thursday evening. In a video of more than two minutes he tells that the end of an era has arrived. “Now is the time to bring the journey to an end. I’ve always said there would be no other club for me than Barcelona, and that’s how it happens. Now I’m becoming a regular supporter.”
Piqué went through much of Barcelona’s youth academy before moving to Manchester United in the summer of 2004. After a four-year adventure, the stopper returned in 2008 to los Azulgrana and he has remained loyal to the club ever since. While playing for Barcelona, Piqué became eight times national champion, won the Champions League (four times), the Copa del Rey (seven times), the Spanish Super Cup (six times), the European Super Cup (three times) and the World Cup three times. for clubs. Furthermore, as a Spanish international (102 caps), he became world champion in 2010 and European champion in 2012.
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