Gerard Piqué confirms FC Barcelona retirement
The central defender posted a moving video on his social media accounts confirming that it’s time to ‘close the circle’ with the Catalan club.
Barcelona central defender Gerard Piqué has confirmed that Saturday’s home game for the club when they face Almeria will be his last at Camp Nou for the Catalan side.
The player posted a moving video on his social media accounts confirming that it’s time to ‘close the circle’ with the club.
Pique failed to reveal where his next destination would be but did close the video with a cryptic ‘I’ll be back’ message.
Piqué farewell message
This is the full transcript of the message posted on Twitter by the player:
“Culers [Barcelona fans], it’s Gerard.
The last few weeks, months, lots of people have been talking about me. Until now, I haven’t said anything. But now, I want to be the one talking about me.
Like many of you, I’ve always been a Barça fan. I was born into a football loving family of Barça fans. From a very young age I didn’t want to become a football player I wanted to be a Barça player. I’ve been thinking a lot about that kid lately.
About what little Gerard would have thought, if he’d been told all his dreams would come true. That he would make it to the Barça first team. That he would win every trophy possible. That he would become European Champion and World Champion. That he would play alongside the best players in history. That he would become one of the team’s captains. That he would make friends for life. It’s been twenty-five years since I joined Barça. I left and I came back.
Football has given me everything. Barça has given me everything. You, culers, have given me everything. And now that all that kid’s dreams have come true I want to tell you that I’ve decided that now is the time to bring this journey to its end.
I’ve always said that there would not be any other team after Barça. And that’s how it will be. This Saturday’s game will be my last at Camp Nou. I will become a regular fan. I will support the team. I will pass my love for Barça to my children. Like my family did with me. And you know me. Sooner or later I’ll be back. I’ll see you at Camp Nou.
Long live Barça. Always”.