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Gerard Piqué

was overcome by emotion in his goodbye

to

Barça

.

A goodbye only as a player.

As he did not tire of repeating,

he is a culé for life

and plans to return, just as he did after embarking on an adventure in English football when he was still a teenager.

"

It's not a farewell

, I already left when I was 17 years old because I thought I needed space, and

I came back

. I want to tell you, many of you already know, that

my grandfather made me a member the day I was born

. I was born here and I will die here.

See Barça . Always

", reeled off a very emotional Piqué from the center of the

Camp Nou

field .

Just before starting his heartfelt speech, and after returning from the bench and taking off his sweatshirt to show off the Barça colors, he gave a

lap of honor to the stadium

that has been his home for the last 15 years.

The stands, focused on him long before the ball began to run on the pitch, did not stop applauding him and chanting his name.

His companions, who kept him just before all that, followed him at a certain distance, wrapping him up, but also leaving him privacy in saying goodbye to him.


"In life, when you get older, you realize that

sometimes wanting is letting go

," he said at the beginning of his speech.

"In a relationship of so much love, of so much passion as the one that exists between Barça and me, it was time to leave us a space, a little air, and I am convinced that in the future I will be here again", stressed the defense, whose statement was accompanied by shouts of '

president, president

' from the stands, recalling his oft-repeated intentions to run the club in the future.

Farewell with bracelet

The tribute to Piqué began with his

ownership

, wearing the armband although the first captain,

Sergio Busquets

, who could also end up leaving the club at the end of this campaign, was also in the

eleven.

In total, more than

92,605 followers

gathered to give him a farewell marked by a message: '

Sempr3

'.

A game with the translation of the word 'always' into Catalan and the number

3

shirt that he has always worn since his return to the Barça club.

When

Xavi

changed it so that he received the first of the last applause from him,

he hugged all his teammates

, even with those in the stands, and staff members with tears in their eyes.

His companions, at the end of his speech, made the

hall

for him, but he refused to leave the field definitively.

Before doing so, he took a photo with his children,

Milan and Sasha

, and several relatives on the bench.

And, even, he approached with them next to the

Gol Norte

stands , before going to the changing rooms of the Camp Nou for the last time.

"His absence will be noticed"

"It has been a historic and perfect night for everyone, mainly for Gerard.

He had a

great game and we wanted to send him off in the best possible way.

The bigger the game for him, the better he performs

. I have already told him that he is a Barça legend and we are very grateful to him,"

Xavi told

DAZN

after the match

.

"I've felt sorry. I'm grateful for everything he's given all of us

culés

. He's done a lot for the club. In the end, it's a shame.

His absence will be noticed

and not only in terms of football, but also in terms of human, but it is the law of life", added

Jordi Alba

.

"Gerard

leaves behind a spectacular legacy

. He has made history, he has always gone out of his way for the club and has created an incredible atmosphere. He is the example of what a Barça player is and what a Barça player has to do,"

Sergio said.

Busquets

.

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  • Gerard Piqué

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