Gerard Piqué will play his last game as a professional footballer this Saturday against Almería. The Barcelona defender has decided to hang up his boots mid-season after 15 years in the club's first team in his life. He will be able to say goodbye to his fans, presumably on the Camp Nou pitch, although Xavi Hernández did not reveal if he will start.
The Blaugrana coach was not the only one who spoke about Piqué in the run-up to the League match. BarçaTV also collected statements from several first team players, especially from the other captains: Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto.
"We will miss him. I am sad, we have experienced many unforgettable moments, both inside and outside the locker room. He has given a lot. A piece of Barça's shield is gone, of history. It's hard for Barcelona," said Busquets.
"He's fundamental for all of us. He helped me a lot. It's sad. He's a friend. He deserves to go through the big door. We've lifted many titles together. We're from the house, we feel for the club," said Jordi Alba.
Sergi Roberto admitted that he cried when he saw the video of one of his "best friends". "He has been a key player on the pitch, also in the dressing room, always smiling, making jokes, helping... it's a huge loss. We love him very much."
Robert Lewandowski also had words of praise. "He is an iconic player. I remember perfectly when I played against him, always complicated in so many battles. He is not only a great player, but an incredible person. He helps everyone in the locker room and me especially in my early days. Barça means a lot to him, we have a lot of respect for him for everything he has done."
Another illustrious ex-Blaugrana like Pep Guardiola also spoke out, who brought him back from Manchester United in 2008 and made him a central defender along with Carles Puyol. "This is surprising news. I know his mother and his father, he is an incredible person, with a great personality," he said at the City press conference.
He considers Piqué "a player of big matches, necessary in all the big clubs," he added. "He won everything with Barça and with the Spanish team. The time has come, his future will be bright, he is a smart boy. It is an honor to have been his coach, we spent four incredible years together.
