Gerard PiqueOne of Barcelona’s former guards and top trophy winners stunned the football world by announcing his immediate retirement on Thursday. The charismatic defender posted an emotional video on Twitter, thanking his billions of fans and the Catalan club for their continued support. The farewell proposal was shocking to say the least. It has left football fans around the world baffled, no, lethargic.
Indeed, his decision to retire was shocking, as if an earthquake high on the Richter scale had shaken the fans. This time, the brute shock did not have a well-defined epicenter with latitude and longitude, but was far beyond the borders of Spain. According to numerous reports, no player or coach was aware of Pique’s plans, except for Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez. That’s a whole different matter, now many football experts can talk about how the Spaniard’s retirement is approaching and the inevitable must happen.
Pique’s romance with Beautiful Sports began when she came to Barcelona at the age of 10. He won 30 trophies, was a key member of Spain’s World Cup winning squad in 2010, and then took part in the European Championship victory two years later. Those were the years when Pique had incredible performances for her fans. In a flash, Pique decided to pack up. Like the trophies in his window, Pique goes to bed on Saturday night after the last game between Barcelona and Almeria in La Liga. Tears will shed as he waves to his fans for a final farewell, fans will be hysterical. Fans are angered by Pique’s voluntary or forced decision. He’s going through tough and emotional times, he’s late. Most are related to issues beyond the confines of the lush football field.
Read More: Will Gerard Pique receive a deferred salary from Barcelona after announcing his retirement from football? Spanish answers
Before Gerard Pique retires
Gerard Pique first made headlines in 2010. This is not only because he won the Jules Rimet Trophy, but that’s when he started romanticizing Popstar Shakira at the World Cup in South Africa. The two joked, snuggled and joked before finally formalizing their relationship in May 2011.
Legally speaking, Pique and Shakira never took the vows of marriage. Here’s a duo whose chemistry is defined by the heart and raging hormones. He had set the world on fire with his way of speaking because they were so frequently discussed and frequently featured in the news. It is well known that the couple has two children named Sacha and Milan. Problems escalated between the two in 2022 and they finally decided to separate in June, almost 11 years after they started falling in love with each other.
Of course, all the media attention shifted to Pique. Often on the receiving end, he was infuriated and ridiculed. For a staunch defender of the Rock of Gibraltar, Pique failed to fend off attacks from media dogs and paparazzi. After breaking up with Shakira spotted kissing his girlfriend Clara Chia. This was just weeks after her departure. Shakira’s fans came across Pique like a ton of bricks. They destroyed the Spanish star on all social media platforms. There were even death threats to Pique and her new baby, Clara Chia.
Hate and media witch hunt environment around Gerard Pique
Indeed, these were traumatic times for Pique. His private life was made public and satirized daily. Such a beating from the media and social media would definitely tear him apart from the inside. After all, the best of people are weakened by such intense scrutiny every day. From hotels to airports, Pique and Clara Chia have been hunted and followed by reporters, posting interesting stories in the media and on social media.
The outcome was so negative that Pique’s lawyers had to go out and make a self-explanatory statement. called out After breaking up with Shakira, “various rumors and unconfirmed information” emerged about the actress circulating on social media. They even threatened media outlets and paparazzi with “legal action” if more bilges spread on social media.
But despite the warning, the incurable media campaign against Pique continued. Worse still, fans started booing Pique and harassing her using Shakira’s cheers during matches. Unfortunately, every minute detail of his legal fight with Shakira over custody of their children has been released by the media. In most cases, he was portrayed as the villain of Spain, not the football icon who won hearts with his magic skills.
These malicious campaigns were frustrating. It also damaged the Spaniard’s morale and confidence. Pique was being lectured and it was getting harder and harder to lead a peaceful life day by day.
Gerard Pique: playing time and statistics for the 2022-23 season
After Barcelona’s 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League in 2020, Pique stood up and stated, “If we need new blood, I’ll be the first to go.” In 2022, with the Catalan club still in the restructuring phase and being kicked out of the Champions League, Pique certainly seems to have kept his word.
But are numbers only responsible for his rapid retirement, where he can’t even wait for his contract (which should expire in 2024) or at least the end of the current season? Some people watching Barcelona’s home game against Inter might answer this question in the affirmative, with Pique giving his opponent two easy goals.
But those who have followed him for the past two years are aware that the Spaniard has been given less playing time, especially this season. This was after Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen were present. Surprisingly, the 35-year-old Pique scored an average. 7.28 In the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.
This shows once again that playing for less time or weak numbers alone cannot cause Pique to come to such a decision. This meant that there were several other factors that could lead to his retirement.
Gerard Pique favors Barcelona despite retirement
Just when Gerard Pique decided to leave the club, he was one of the first players to accept a pay cut, if needed, when FC Barcelona faced a shortage of funds. Pique decided not to receive a deferred salary from the club after his retirement. The total amount of bets he gave up is close to 30 million euros.
Amid news of the friction between Club Pique and President Joan Laporta and Pique and Xavi Hernandez, the defender’s love for Barcelona has never ceased. He has said in the past that this will be the last club he will play football for. How the Barcelona club and its fans have treated one of their biggest icons in times of trouble is now under scrutiny.
Gerard Pique’s career may contain many wonderful memories and controversies. However, what is not reported or may occur later is poor mental health because pointed By some famous Spanish journalists. The 35-year-old will play his last professional match against Almeria at Camp Nou.
Also Read: “Send it to China; A scammer” – Fans react to Gerard Pique’s sudden move to leave Barcelona
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