Gerard Pique retires in a shock announcement
In the biggest news that rocked football this month, Barcelona centre-half Gerard Pique announced that he steps away from the game with almost immediate effect.
Sending shockwaves throughout the world on his social media, the 35-year-old will hang up his boots on November 5 at their LaLiga fixture at home against UD Almeria at the Nou Camp, bringing an end to his professional career that spanned more than 18 years.
His retirement came at a peculiar time where he fell down the depth chart, as the signing of Jules Kounde, among others saw him only become their fifth-choice at the heart of the back line.
SIGN UP FOR M88 MANSION AND GET YOUR BONUS OF YOUR CHOICE.
A proud produced of La Masia, Pique left Catalunya in 2004 where he began his career with Manchester United. Playing sporadically in his first two season while spending another one on loan at Zaragoza, he played a minor role in their Premier League and Champions League triumph in 2008.
However, the arrival of Pep Guardiola saw him return to Barcelona, where he enjoyed massive success both for club and country for the rest of his career.
With the Blaugrana, Pique basically won almost everything while scoring 52 goals in 615 appearances while forging a solid partnership with Carles Puyol and later Javier Mascherano.
His trophy haul with Barcelona included eight LaLiga titles, seven Copa Del Rey trophies and three Champions League crowns, as he joins an elite club of dual treble winners that had Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and current Barca boss Xavi in it.
With the Spanish national team, he was part of Vicente Del Bosque’s side that won the 2010 World Cup and the European title two years later. He scored five times in 102 caps for La Furia Roja, and last played for them when they were knocked out by Russia in the 2018 World Cup.
