Gerard Pique, a defender for Barcelona, has announced his decision to quit playing football following his farewell match at the Nou Camp on Saturday.
The 35-year-old, who spent four years with Manchester United after rising through the ranks at Barcelona, made the revelation in a video shared on social media.
Pique’s final La Liga game will be against Almeria for Barca.
“I’ve always said that there would not be any other team after Barca and that’s how it will be,” he said.
Pique played for Barca as a youngster until 2004, when he joined Manchester United. He returned to the Catalan giants in 2008 after playing little for the Red Devils during their 2007–2008 Premier League and Champions League triumphs.
He has played in more than 600 games and collected 30 medals during his career at Barcelona, including eight La Liga championships, three Champions League trophies, and seven Copa del Rey crowns.
Barcelona is now in second place in La Liga, one point behind Real Madrid, and was eliminated from the Champions League this season.
After accumulating 102 caps for Spain and winning the 2012 European Championship and 2010 World Cup, Pique retired from international football in 2018.
He added: “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.”
He also teased he would return to Barca’s famous ground, saying: “You know me, sooner or later I will be back. I’ll see you at Camp Nou. Long live Barca. Always.”
Culers, us he de dir una cosa. pic.twitter.com/k3V919pm1T
— Gerard Piqué (@3gerardpique) November 3, 2022