Gerard Pique has Announced His Sudden Retirement From Barcelona
Legendary Barcelona center-back Gerard Pique announced on Twitter Thursday that he will be retiring from soccer this month when La Liga goes on break for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The news came as a shock to many as there was little to no mention of him retiring this season. The 35-year-old said that this Saturday’s match against Almeria will be his final match played at the Camp Nou.
No player has ever been more Barcelona than Pique who was born in the Catalan city and played for his hometown team since 2008. Even before he played for Barcelona’s senior team he had been in their academy from 1997 to 2004 when he left to play for Manchester United. But a return to his home always seemed likely and sure enough, did eventually happen after four years in Manchester that saw him play just 12 times.
“Like many of you, coming from a football family, I have always been a Barcelona fan,” Pique said in his video on Twitter. “I did not want to be a footballer, I wanted to play for Barca.”
“Recently, I have thought a lot about when I was younger, about what that Gerard would have thought if I told him he would fulfill all his dreams, that he would play for Barça and be a European and world champion.”
He was more than just a player at Barcelona. He was a captain and leader of the team helping them win eight La Liga titles and three UEFA Champions League titles. Over his 14 years at Barcelona, he played in 396 matches scoring 29 goals, which is impressive for a defender.
It was not only at Barcelona that Pique made his presence felt but internationally as well. With the Spanish national team, he made 102 caps and helped win the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship.
This season Pique has seen a major drop in playing minutes and has only appeared in nine of his team’s 18 matches across all competitions.
Forever Barcelona. Pique ended his sudden retirement video by saying, “I will become another fan after, I will support the team and transmit my love for the club to my kids, like they did with me. And you know me, sooner or later I will be back. See you at Camp Nou. Visca Barca, always and forever.”
The final match of Pique’s illustrious career will come against Osasuna next week in Barcelona’s last match before breaking for the 2022 World Cup.
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