Guwahati: Gerard Pique, the standout defender for Barcelona made his retirement from the game official on Thursday in a video posted by the Spanish player on his Twitter account.
The Barcelona star will play his final match for the team against Almeria in LaLiga on Saturday at Camp Nou before calling it a career. During his illustrious career, he won eight LaLiga championships, three Champions Leagues, as well as numerous other trophies for Barcelona.
During his illustrious nine-year career with Spain, he won the 2010 International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup and the 2012 European Championship before quitting international football following the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
“The last few weeks, months, people have been talking about me,” Pique said in a video posted across social media. “Until now, I have not said anything, but now I want to be the one who is talking about me. Like many of you, I have always been a Barcelona fan. I was born into a football-loving family. From a very young age, I did not want to become a footballer, I wanted to play for Barca,” said Pique in a video he shared on Twitter.
“Recently, I have thought a lot about that kid. If he had been told he would fulfil all his dreams, that he would play for Barca, that he would win every trophy possible, that he would be a European and world champion. That he would play with the best players in history, that he would become one of the team’s captains. … Football has given me everything. You, the fans, have given me everything. And now my childhood dreams have been fulfilled, I want to tell you that I’ve decided that now is the time to bring this journey to its end,” added the Barca defender announcing his retirement.
“I have always said that after Barcelona there will be no other team, and that is how it will be. This Saturday’s game will be my last at Camp Nou. I will become a regular fan, I will support the team and transmit my love for the club to my kids like my family did with me. And you know me, sooner or later I will be back. See you at Camp Nou. Visca Barca, always and forever,” signed off the Spanish footballer.
Pique joined the club’s academy in 1997 before moving for Man United in 2004. Pique’s grandpa served on the board of directors of Barcelona.
After four years in Manchester, 23 first-team appearances for the English team, and a season-long loan with Real Zaragoza back in Spain, he went back to Barcelona in 2008.
In his first 14 seasons with the first team, Pique was a mainstay, but this year, since the addition of defenders Andreas Christensen and Jules Kounde, he has slipped down the pecking order.
Pique is currently the fifth choice in his position, behind Ronald Araujo and Eric Garcia, who have each made nine appearances this season across all competitions.
However, left-back Marcos Alonso has been used in front of him in defence since the 3-3 draw with Inter Milan last month, when Pique was singled out for criticism, making him consider leaving midway through despite having a contract until 2024.
Pique was advised by Barcelona in the summer that he would not see much playing time this season as the team looked to either let some of the veterans, including Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, leave or reduce their salaries, according to ESPN.
Pique, Busquets and Alba have all changed their salary and agreed to pay reductions and deferrals at various stages in previous years to help the team navigate a difficult financial situation.
Their salaries take up a large percentage of Barca’s budget despite the relatively small amount of time they have spent playing under Xavi this season due to deferred payments that are now due.
Pique, who will be 36 in January, already has several interests outside of work. Through his business, Kosmos, he has remodelled the Davis Cup tennis competition and is the owner of the second-division team Andorra.
Prior to retiring, he had stated his intention to run for the position of Barca president, but more recently, he has said that, while it is still a possibility, he is unsure if he will do so.