Barcelona Legend, Pique Announces Retirement

Spanish professional footballer, Gerard Pique, has announced his retirement from club football, exiting Barcelona after this weekend’s game.

The 35-year-old who had played for Barcelona for 14 years in the defence line said on Thursday that he is retiring after the Catalan’s match against Almeria this Saturday.

The weekend La Liga game would be Pique’s last match for Barcelona, Naija News understands.

Pique said today that the moment has come for an end to his playing prime. “Saturday’s match (against Almeria) will be my last at Camp Nou,” the Spanish player noted on Twitter.

Pique is saying bye to professional footballing after winning four Champions League titles and the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 with Spain.

“I wanted to tell you that I’ve decided the moment has come to an end this journey,” the player said in a video clip where he was watching images of himself as a small boy wearing the Barcelona shirt or chasing after autographs.

“There’s no other team after Barca. I’m going to become a super fan, I’ll be supporting the team and pass on my love for Barca to my son.

“And sooner or later, I’ll be back,” Pique said.

Naija News recalls that Pique had played for Manchester United academy in 2004, winning the first Champions League trophy under then-manager Alex Ferguson in 2008.

He then returned to Catalonia where he started playing at age ten, to help Barca to eight La Liga crowns, seven Copas del Rey and three Champions League titles in 2009, 2011 and 2015.