Despite playing just 315 of a possible 630 of his team’s La Liga minutes this season, Gerard Pique isn’t giving up on Barcelona.
In fact, he’s sticking with them forever.
I love this club for its history, its style of play and its connection to Catalunya,” the 27-year-old defender told FourFourTwo. I” love it here. I am at the best club in the world right now. I have no intention of leaving now or later. I’ve just signed a new contract and I want to retire a Blaugrana, just like Puyol did.”
Still in the prime of his career, Pique has a long way to go until retirement, so there’s plenty of soccer to be played and situations to play out. But it’s still quite the statement coming from a guy who has seen his playing time drop.
“You never know what the future holds, but right now, I love this city, I love the people in the club, and most importantly, I love the institution. I don’t see myself leaving.”
Ok, that’s a little more rational.
With Barcelona completely retooling its defense and Manchester United needing to shore up its back line badly, Pique was heavily linked with a logical return to Old Trafford. But these comments make it very clear he has no intentions of going anywhere.
It’s also a quick turnaround from his comments a month ago, when he told the media that he felt he hasn’t “been valued enough for what I have done sportingly” at the Nou Camp.