TODAY GERARD PIQUE QUITS FOOTBALL TOTALLY!
No, he doesn't want to wait for the January transfer window,nor does he want to wait for his club to replace him,nor does he want to go somewhere in the middle East and enjoy huge money, plus making football even more popular in those parts.
Firstly,he is Gerard Piqué Bernabeu, an elite Spanish professional footballer. He plays as a centre back and is rightly considered one of the very best in his generation. He's also a graduate of the La Masia – Barca's famed academy– where he shone in brilliant colours. Incidentally in his name is same name Barca's sworn rivals(Real Madrid) name their stadium.
He has been a mainstay at the heart of the Barca defence for over a decade now. These days he is 35-years-old( retired from the national team after the 2018 World Cup, where he made his 100th appearance) and has a new coach over him,who has not had a full season under his belt yet,by name Xavi Hernández. Who himself is a former teammate of Pique for several jolly years of comquest in Spain,in Europe, in club world football and in National team football.
It all began this season as with the arrival of Kounde from Sevilla and Christensen from Chelsea, Pique began to "grow old" on the bench. The veteran defender is now ostensibly regarded as the 5th choice centre-back at Barca behind Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen.
The outspoken defender refused to keep mute about it, as per Barca Universal in September he complained aloud in the dressing room after not featuring in Barca's 2 nil Champions league loss to Bayern Munich. It was loud enough for coach Xavi to overhear it from one side of the dressing room and he issued a firm disciplinary decision to Pique there and then, that Pique will play even less matches going forward.
It would be recalled that Pique in a very direct sense helped Barca through the recent cash crunch. He was one of the high earners and the ease with which he sacrificed to take a pay-cut helped in no small way with the signings Barca made last summer– Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Jules Kounde, Frank Kessie, and Andreas Christensen whilst they also renewed Ousmane Dembele's contract.
Putting it in perspective,a fairly new Barca player in Frenkie-de-jong found it quite puzzling to agree to a pay-cut.
SO HERE WE HAVE IT
Ofcourse Xavi kept to his promise and now Pique has announced he will retire completely from football(not just quitting Barca) AFTER BARCA'S MATCH TODAY AGAINST ALMERIA.
This season Pique has played just two times across all competitions, totalling a paltry 135 minutes of game time.
https://twitter.com/brfootball/status/1588227693841104896
source
Today we bid farewell to a sleek defender who makes defending look easy. In his younger days he paired with the Spanish legend and former Barca captain, Carlos Puyol,then Puyol retired and people thought Pique will be less effective, but his stock grew and grew, he was fantastic to watch, with his intelligent game reading too. His lean frame often deceptive,when compared to his speed,strength and agility.
He hangs his boot with a fantastic haul of achievements– three UEFA Champions League crowns, eight La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey, six Supercopa Espana, three UEFA Super Cup and three FIFA Club World Cup titles. This is in addition to winning the FIFA 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship as an absolutely regular player for Spain.
A legend exits the stage here.
Farewell,
Sir Gerard Piqué Bernabeu.
Cheers
He is making more money from his business these days and needs to be off the field. I read somewhere that he is turning over $100's of millions with his new company which is also involved in football. They negotiated to change the rules regarding their cup competition and negotiated the tv rights for La Liga.
Hahaha,please leave his money alone.
He alone knows why he wants it this way.
There are a host of clubs that he can conveniently play for in other continents and earn huge royalties. There are also ongoing family problems to add to this whole equation. So I guess he just decided to run away from it all.
Always a pleasure,seeing you here boss.
Thanks
I was shocked when I read it. I was thinking he would go to another team at least since he's getting little playing time from Xavi. I guess he did what he felt was best for him and I wish him all the best too.
Yeah bro, your last sentence is it because he had options.
Thanks
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When I got the news I was shocked, never expected Pique to leave during the season when it's still early. Pique for me will always be a part of FC Barcelona's history and no one can deny that, I hope he comes back to be the club's President in the future.