Gerard Pique has announced that Saturday's La Liga match against Almeria will be his last as a professional footballer.
ADVERTISEMENT
Gerard Piqué announces retirement from football with mini-documentary
The veteran Barcelona defender has confirmed he will hang up his boots finally after Barca's next La Liga match against Almeria.
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has announced his retirement from football
Recommended articles
The 35-year-old Spanish center-back confirmed his decision via a 2-minute video he posted on his social media on Thursday, November 3, 2022.
He posted the video with a message that read: "Culers, us he de dir una cosa." which is Spanish for "I have to tell you one thing."
ADVERTISEMENT
The video posted by the defender shows glimpses of his older self watching clips of childhood days as fan of the club before finally joining Barca's youth team for free, with his voice also being heard in the background of the video as the narrator while also thanking the Barcelona fans and supporters for his time at the club.
Gerard Pique celebrates after Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Aleix Vidal scored during the Spanish League "Clasico" football match against Real Madrid
AFP
Pique has fallen out of favour at the Camp Nou this season, after making just three La Liga starts, and has now decided to call time on his incredible career in the sport.
The Spanish defender, who has enjoyed 14 glittering years with the club having re-joined them in 2008 a key part of a number of great Barcelona teams in addition to having won two European Championships and the World Cup with the Spanish National team.
Why did Gerard Pique retire?
ADVERTISEMENT
The primary reason behind is decision is not clear as at the time of writing, but reports suggest that the 35-year-old center-back has fallen out of favour with current coach and former teammate Xavi.
Gerard Pique
Pulse Sports
Pique could not seal a starting shirt at the Spotify Camp Nou having fallen down the pecking order with the likes of Jules Kounde, Ronaldo Araujo, Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen all ahead of him in the team.
Pique is no doubt the most experienced defender currently at the club but has been often criticized for his performances in recent times for the Catalans.
As a matter of fact, Pique's struggles for a starting shirt have not gotten any better with the arrivals at the club in the summer, as even Marcos Alonso who is a natural left-back has been utilized in central defense ahead of the veteran.
ADVERTISEMENT
Gerad Pique has failed to break into Xavi's preferred XI at Barcelona
Imago
There have also been rumours of an internal rift between the club and the player himself after he split from his ex -Shakira due to his infidelity, earlier this year.
The club was reportedly unhappy with the negative spotlight the news brought to the team amid their economic struggles and have since been in talks over a possible termination of his contract despite him agreeing to take a salary pay cut initially.
During his time with Barcelona, he has won 8 La Liga titles, 7 Copa de Rey trophies, 6 Supercopa de Espana trophies, 3 UEFA Champions League titles, 3 UEFA Super Cups and 3 FIFA Club World Cups,
He was also voted the best defender in La Liga in the 2009/10 season, and has been voted in La Liga's team of the season two consecutive seasons (2014/15, 2015/16).
ADVERTISEMENT
Pique has been voted in the UEFA Team of the year 5 times ( 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016) having made over 100 appearances in the Champions League and has also been voted in the FIFA FIFPro World XI four times (2010, 2011, 2012, 2016).
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.com.gh
Recommended articles
The Intersection of Enthusiasm: United Kingdom's local motorsports and Ghana's rising stars
Video: Watch Fatawu Issahaku’s hat trick in Leicester City’s win against Southampton
RTU suspends coach Abdulai Mumin over match-fixing allegations
Hearts of Oak are better off playing with an empty post than using Richard Attah – Taylor
Sorry for causing you a lot of pain – Dr. Prosper Ogum apologizes to Kotoko fans
Govt hasn't paid us – African Games gold medalist Winnifred Ntumi 'cries' out
Dumsor is part of the reasons why we lost against Legon Cities – Hearts of Oak coach
Black Stars midfielder Daniel Kofi Kyereh to miss rest of season due to injury
