The 35-year-old Spaniard, who has played 615 games for Barcelona, scored 52 goals, won the World Cup with the team in 2010, and sealed the Champions League title on three occasions, took to social media and posted a message announcing his retirement. The message read, “It is the moment to end this stage of my life. I have always said that after Barcelona, there will be no other club, and that is exactly the way it is going to be.”
He aided Barcelona in winning eight Spanish league championships and seven Copa del Rey victories in addition to the treble of European Cups. Pique said that he would continue to be a regular fan and be there for the team at all times, come what may. “And you know me, sooner or later, I will be back,” he added.
Culers, us he de dir una cosa. pic.twitter.com/k3V919pm1T
— Gerard Piqué (@3gerardpique) November 3, 2022
After actively participating in the club’s financial planning last year, including taking a voluntary wage cut, it is speculated that he may one day run for president of Barcelona.
Prior to joining Man United in 2004, Pique began his career at the club’s youth in 1997. His grandfather was a member of Barcelona’s board of directors.
In 2008, he returned to Barcelona under Pep Guardiola after spending four years in Manchester, making 23 first-team appearances for the English team, and spending a season on loan with Real Zaragoza in Spain. As a member of the elite Barcelona squad led by Lionel Messi, he soon rose to become one of the best centre-backs in the world.
Pique was a stalwart for the first 14 years of his time with the team, but this year, with the arrival of defenders Andreas Christensen and Jules Kounde, he has gone down the lineup.
Prior to his international retirement in 2018, Piqué, who also assisted Spain in winning the 2012 European Championship, lost his spot in the starting XI this season as a result of Barcelona bringing in new players, like Jules Koundé and Marcos Alonso.
Piqué distinguished himself from other players owing to his off-field commercial endeavours. While he entered into contentious agreements with the Spanish federation for the staging of the Spanish Super Cup competition in Saudi Arabia, he also effectively redesigned the Davis Cup tennis competition through his company, Kosmos.
