Anwar Ibrahim (Cairo)
To a surprising surprise for many within Barcelona and among its fans, and in all European sporting circles, veteran defender Gerard Pique announced his definitive retirement, noting that Almeria’s match in the Spanish La Liga on Saturday is the l last to play in the “Camp Nou” before his retirement. Pique’s decision confirms beyond any doubt the extent of his love, loyalty and attachment to his “Catalan” club, which has seen the best times of his life, as a contract expires in “summer 2024”, and despite he did not hesitate to announce his retirement now.
And what the champion Pique, who won everything with the Catalan club “8 Liga, 4 Champions League, 7 King’s Cup, 6 Super local, 3 Super European, 3 Club World Cup, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 with the Roja team “, Urged Juan Laporta, president of the club, praising his decision, through an interview on the club’s television, and stressed that what he did was a” wonderful gesture “that the club and its fans would not have forgotten, and an unprecedented pattern of loyalty and belonging, even if his contract expired after more than two years.
Laporta said: Pique made his decision voluntarily and of his own free will, for the sake of the club assistant.
He hinted that Pique is doing everything in his power to really help the club improve their financial situation, noting that negotiations are currently underway to reach a “minimum agreement” regarding the termination of the contract.
Laporta admitted that Pique understands the club’s financial situation and the need not to violate the rules of financial fair play, and said: Yes, Pique understands all this well and acts voluntarily, and without any pressure, for the love of the club. and the desire to help him overcome his financial crises.
Laporta indicated that the termination of the contract is currently being finalized. And he talked a lot about what Pique will receive from all Barca fans and fans around the world, as one of the best defenders of his generation, acknowledging that the decision is difficult for any player, but it came after deep thought and attentive, and we will always be at your side and at your service.
“What Pique is hoping for is perfectly consistent with what should happen when someone very important to the club retires,” he said.
Gerard Pique, born 2 February 1987 (35 years old), began his professional career with Manchester United (2004-2008), after graduating from the Catalan Lamazia Academy, and having loaned him to Real Zaragoza in the 2006-2007 season, and is returned to Barcelona in 2008 so far.
Pique played for all Spanish youth under 15, 16, 17, 19, 20 and 21 years old and joined the first team in the 2008-2009 season, where he played 102 games and scored 5 goals.
