Happy, relaxed and satisfied. This is how the always genius and figure Gerard Piqué appeared yesterday at the Camp Nou. Fate is capricious. Weeks ago, Barcelona had planned that the players, the coaching staff and also the president Joan Laporta would take the official photos of the season yesterday, in which, of course, the center-back is. And Piqué, aware that he is once again the protagonist after announcing that he is leaving FC Barcelona in his own way and when he considered it appropriate, smiled more than ever at the photographer. Not only because it is the last snapshot. Also because he knows that he has recovered the story of the good Barcelona player who decides to step aside. He faithful to his principles that led him to say that when he did not have the desired role, he would leave.
The moment has arrived. And with that good vibe after taking the photos, the captain trained with his teammates in the prelude to what will be his last game at the Camp Nou against Almería. He went out and enjoyed himself with his teammates in a way that was hardly remembered in other training sessions in which the press witnessed Piqué in low hours during the first 15 minutes allowed.
On the other hand, in the Ricard Maxenchs press room, the same one that saw Xavi Hernández sit down a little less than a year ago during his presentation as the new Barcelona coach, a completely different atmosphere was experienced. Xavi did not have a good time, answering with the sincerity that characterizes him 22 questions out of the 25 asked that dealt with the center-back's goodbye. That how he managed it. That at what moment he saw it coming. And of course what will happen now in a Barça that little by little is saying goodbye to footballers who marked a stage full of successes. And Xavi, who knows well the path and the feeling of sadness and frustration generated by having to hang up his boots, acknowledged that it was not easy to communicate to Piqué in the summer that his role would be diminishing.
Because that's where it all started. “Being a coach is ungrateful for these kinds of circumstances. It is difficult to have to make certain decisions with teammates like Piqué or Alves. Without a doubt, talking to Piqué was one of the most complicated moments of my career and now also because I have great esteem for him”, acknowledged the coach.
Xavi did not reveal if Piqué will start against Almería. His plan is to agree with Piqué how and when he wants to say goodbye to a Camp Nou that is expected to present one of the best tickets of the season. "He deserves the best and that Barcelona fans honor him for what he is: a legend and one of the best central defenders in the club's history," Xavi asked.
Barcelona's intention is for Piqué to say goodbye next week at a press conference with President Joan Laporta. It remains for the footballer to accept said farewell. "It is a gesture of greatness that he leaves with a valid contract," Xavi slipped.
Not everything has been pretty. Piqué leaves Barcelona disappointed with president Laporta and also with director of football Mateu Alemany. He did not like, like the rest of the captains, feeling singled out in the members' meeting. “If some players had been discounted, personal guarantees should not have been made,” said Laporta to explain the reasons that led him to guarantee, together with the treasurer Joan Oliver, 10 million from his pocket to be able to register Koundé. Negotiations to reduce the salaries of Piqué, Busquets and Alba took place in the summer. But they did not bear fruit. Busquets contract ends in June and did not want to extend his bond to defer his salary.
In the case of Piqué and Alba, with a contract until June 2024, the sports management wanted to renew the clause that existed until last year, which stated that if the captains did not play at least 45 minutes of 35 percent of the games in which they were fit, their salary would be affected. Both rejected the proposal although they were always open to negotiating.
The board also experienced Piqué's goodbye with some bewilderment. Laporta's hard core knew of the central defender's decision but not the date of the announcement. They also did not like not being part of the video process that Piqué's team, in its entirety, began to develop a week ago and that ended on Thursday morning hours before the center-back published it on their networks.
Xavi, like the squad, also did not know the date of the announcement. Piqué considers that there has been little sensitivity on the part of the coach. "It is not personal. It's soccer. I was honored with my message”, said Xavi. "I wish you all the best. He can do whatever he wants”, he predicted when asked about Piqué's desire to one day be president of Barcelona.
