FC Barcelona centre-back Gerard Pique has recently announced his retirement from professional football.
Born and brought up in a football-loving family, Gerard Pique started his journey at the academy of Barcelona.
Pique then joined Manchester United in 2004. After mostly playing for the reserve team, the defender was loaned out to La Liga club Real Zaragoza in 2006. Pique played one year for the Spanish club and then returned back to United.
After his return, he won the English Premier League, FA Community Shield and the UEFA Champions League with the Red Devils. The defender finally decided to leave United in the summer of 2008.
A True Barcelona Legend
Spanish giants FC Barcelona signed Gerard Pique in 2008 after paying 5 million to English club Manchester United. It was a homecoming from Pique. After rejoining the Catalan giants, he soon established himself in the starting eleven.
In his first season with Barcelona, Gerard Pique won the famous sextuple. In the next years, he became one of the best defenders of his generation. After Puyol’s retirement, he was the defender that Barcelona fans relied on most for over a decade. He was the epitome of Catalan pride and a leader for Barcelona for many years.
Gerard Pique is one of the most decorated players of all time. In his 14 and half years long Barcelona career he has won La Liga eight times, UEFA Champions League three times, Copa del Rey seven times, Supercopa de Espana 6 times, UEFA Super Cup 3 times, and FIFA Club World Cup 3 times.Â
Pique has also represented Spain for a long time and was a big part of their golden generation. He won the World Cup with Spain in 2010 and then the Euro Cup in 2012. Pique announced his retirement from the national team following their exit from the Russia World Cup 2018.
Gerard Pique Will Play His Final Match
After playing as a starter for over a decade, Gerard Pique has failed to retain his spot in the team. Throughout this season he only made five starts when the other defenders were not available. And now Pique has decided to hang his boots after Barcelona’s match on Saturday.
In a recent video, published on his social media accounts, Gerard Pique stated, “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,” he further added.
Pique’s current contract with Barcelona will run until, the end of the 2024 season. But with Pique’s recent decision, his contract will be mutually terminated. As a result, Barcelona will save a mammoth amount of 46 million. This comes as the final gift from a true Barcelona legend, Gerard Pique.
The post Barcelona Legend Gerard Pique Announces His Retirement appeared first on The12thMan.
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