“I love Barcelona … That’s why I consider it the right time to leave … But this is not goodbye, I was born here and I will die here”.
With those words goodbye defender Barcelona Retiree Gerard Pique, the large crowd that gathered last night, Saturday, to greet him.
The famous footballer, however, did not stand up, his tears ran out, and he collapsed in tears at the Camp Nou stadium, amid warm applause, when it was time to leave the team that hugged him as a child. Addressing the audience, he said: “The president … the president”, referring to his return as team leader, he said: “As you grow up and mature in life, you realize that sometimes loving means giving up on the one you love. I am convinced that in the future I will be here again “.
In subsequent statements to the match that brought his team and Almeria together, Pique confirmed that he felt liberated when manager Xabi Hernandez directed him in the 83rd minute during the 2-0 win over Almeria.
Pique cried (Reuters)
He added: “I have a thousand things in front of me to choose from, I have to organize myself.
“I’ll come back”
“This is my home, I was born here and I will be back, but now it’s time to have fun with the family and I’m going on vacation for a while,” he added.
Furthermore, he confirmed during his speech on the platform (Dazon) that he felt as if “a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders when he left the stadium”, adding that the last few months have been very difficult, but today he feels liberated.
Pique with her two children (Reuters)
He also expressed his happiness at making every effort for the club, saying, “I have had good days and bad days, but I am proud of it. It was a life experience that I will keep forever.”
Pique, who split last June from his wife Shakira, the famous Colombian singer and mother of his two children, started the game yesterday wearing the armband in a season in which he faced bitter criticism for his modest level and popped out of Xavi’s Reports amid reports that the coach and former pitching partner had a choice between leaving or retiring before the season started.
And the pressure was increased by his salary, considered the club’s biggest in financial trouble. While it was reported that he would give up another year and a half’s salary on the contract, in a decision that would improve Barcelona’s financial situation.
Piquet carried on the palms (Reuters)
A successful businessman
Interestingly, the 35-year-old announced on Friday that this match would be his last at the historic stadium, after deciding to retire with the Spanish league suspended next week due to the World Cup in Qatar.
Pique, who has won 36 titles in his 18-year career, including four Champions League, World Cup and European Championship titles with Spain, is one of the most important defenders of his generation.
Pique with her two children at the last goodbye (Reuters)
But he is also a successful businessman, having founded Cosmos Holding, which has large investments in electronic games.
He also owns the Andorra second division club in Spain and has signed a $ 3 billion partnership deal with the International Tennis Federation for a period of 25 years to transform the Davis Cup system, among other investments.
