Piqué, emotional in his goodbye: "Sometimes wanting is letting go"

"I've taken a weight off my shoulders, these months have been difficult"

The central played 84 minutes in the 2-0 against Almería and received an emotional tribute at the Camp Nou

MADRID, 6 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The central defender of FC Barcelona Gerard Piqué lived an emotional farewell to the Camp Nou this Saturday, with a lap of honor and a few words of thanks and love towards the culé team, after the victory (2-0) over Almería in which he played 84 minutes, although he also acknowledged the feeling of "liberation" in his goodbye.

"Sometimes wanting is letting go," he said after the match, addressing 92,000 fans, before breaking down in tears. The Barça '3' played his last game at the Camp Nou, waiting to find out if he will play against Osasuna, after his coach, Xavi Hernández, said on Friday that he has him.

Piqué unexpectedly announced his departure from football on Thursday, without giving many details, only that Almería would be his last game at the Camp Nou. Xavi placed him in the starting lineup and the game ended with a placid victory for the locals that placed them leaders of LaLiga Santander while waiting for what Real Madrid does.

The tributes began before the game, with a canvas in the center of the field with the slogan 'Sempr3' and all the Barça players wearing the shirt with 'Piqué' on the back. The stands also accompanied him at all times, with applause every time he touched the ball, although little by little the game gained prominence.

Piqué put on a good match although Barça had little work to do at the back and, in the 84th minute, the Spanish international was replaced by Christensen. It was another moment of strong emotions for the Catalan, with hugs from all his teammates, kisses and tears, and the tremendous applause for the chant "Piqué, Piqué, 'Pickenbauer'".

With the final whistle, the captain of Barça this Saturday returned to the pitch and his teammates took little time to keep him down. Afterwards, Piqué, with the rest of the team behind him, made a lap of honor around the stadium greeting the fans and took the floor to sing a brief but emotional farewell, beginning with his thanks.

"A love relationship, with as much passion as there is between Barça and me, it was time to give us a space, to give us air. I am convinced that I will be here again. It is not a farewell, at the time I left and came back I was born and I will die here. Visca Barça", he said.

The center-back left the field with the hall and applause from the coaching staff and the rest of the squad, although he later returned to receive the love of family and friends in the stands and on the pitch. Later, Piqué had an act with the Board of Directors in the area of ​​the box, already changed and digesting a night that he will not forget, with the delivery of a plaque from the president, Joan Laporta.

With the Camp Nou almost in the dark, Piqué attended the Dazn microphones. "It's always difficult to say goodbye. It's been won, a good game, I felt good. People have been with the team, with that connection that has existed from the first day to the last", said the central defender, accompanied by the 'commentator' David Villa, highlighting the friendships he has made in his career and candid about the last "difficult" months, with the relief of the full stop.

"I didn't think about retiring. I've always been very clear with myself. These last six months have been difficult. Today has been a liberation. I take this unforgettable memory with me and life goes on. I have a range of a thousand things. This is my home and at some point I will return, it was time to separate paths for a while. I have taken a weight off myself, these months have not been easy. I am left with the happiness of having given everything, "he concluded.