Gerard Piqué’s playing career is coming to a sudden end.
The longtime Barcelona center back announced in a video on social media that he will be retiring, with his final match taking place Saturday at Camp Nou against Almeria in what is sure to be an emotional event.
Piqué, 35, came through Barcelona’s La Masia academy before leaving in 2004 for Manchester United, where he was part of the 2007-08 side that did the Premier League and Champions League double. He returned to Barcelona in 2008 and has been a stalwart for the club ever since, a central figure in its rise to become part of the global elite.