Here Is The Easy Money-Making Trick Everyone Is Talking About! Learn More Here!
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique announced the shock decision to retire this weekend at the age of 35 on Thursday night on Instagram and will have his final match at Camp Nou against Almeria.
“I’ve always said that there would not be any other team after Barca and that’s how it will be,” he said. “Football has given me everything. Barca has given me everything. You, culers [fans], have given me everything.
“And now that all that kid’s [himself] dreams have come true I want to tell you I have decided that now is the time to bring this journey to its end.”
“You know me, sooner or later I will be back. I’ll see you at Camp Nou. Long live Barca. Always.”
The Catalan legend did not give a specific reason for ending his career abruptly – though rumours have begun to swirl around the star’s decision.
Spanish football expert and LaLigaTV personality Guillem Balague says that Pique is willing to forgo around €40m that was due over the remainder of his contract, which was set to expire in 2024 but not what the club owes him from deferred payments during the pandemic.
Barça’s failure to qualify for the knockout stage of the Champions League could be one of the major reasons for the 35-year-old’s retirement – and not just from a financial point of view, which is a heavy burden on the Blaugrana.
Perhaps with the World Cup approaching, the Spaniard sees now as the perfect time to bow out, knowing he’s no longer at the top.
According to Balague, Pique may yet run for the Barcelona presidency. Pique owns Spanish second division club Andorra and is a businessman outside football – while another aspect of his personal life is much discussed right now, too.
This article was updated 1 week ago
