Retiring in the middle of the season is unusual in football, but if you consider the reasons that prompted Pique to make this decision, it may make sense.

The Spanish newspaper “Marca” summarized Pique’s motives for retiring, in the following reasons:

His lack of participation in matches

Pique was the fifth choice in the Barcelona defense line this season after Ronald Araujo, Eric Garcia, Andreas Christensen and Conde, and coach Xavi did not rely on him much, and if it were not for the injuries suffered by all his colleagues in the defense line, Pique would not have had the opportunity to participate in some matches this season.

And between the Spanish League and the Champions League, Pique played nine matches with a total of 555 minutes, and in the few matches he played, Pique made many fatal mistakes, and Xavi told him that it was difficult for him to participate in the matches, but the Spanish international defender wanted to try and take on the challenge, but he is now certain. He is no longer able to participate at the highest level.

The crowd whistles against him

The criticism that Pique was subjected to in the match that Barcelona played against Inter in the group stage of the Champions League, was among the main reasons that prompted him to retire. From the Champions League, Pique was then booed and criticized by Barcelona fans and Catalan newspapers, and the central defense did not expect this big blow, and was disappointed by the fans.

Pique’s problems with his ex-partner Shakira

Off the field, Pique was associated with the Colombian-Lebanese singer Shakira after they met during the filming of the video clip for the song “Waka Waka” in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, which his country won for the first time, and the relationship resulted in the birth of two children, before they announced last June their separation.

Pique’s separation from Shakira greatly affected the player’s level and popularity, especially since the Colombian singer accused him of treason to headline newspapers and magazines for several months. This caused Pique to feel pain because he was no longer able to see his children constantly.

Preoccupied with business

In conjunction with his professionalism in football, Pique is engaged in commercial and economic activities, where he founded the company “Cosmos” to organize sports events that were behind the new suit of the Davis Cup Tennis, which did not satisfy the fans nor the Barcelona management, especially as they see that his focus is no longer with Barcelona, As a result of his preoccupation with running his own business.

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