Jordi Alba & Sergio Busquets pay tribute to ‘spectacular’ Gerard Pique

Barcelona duo Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets have heaped reward on teammate Gerard Pique because the defender retires from skilled soccer.

Pique, 35, shocked the soccer world this week when he introduced that Saturday’s conflict with Almeria could be his closing outing in a Barcelona shirt, and that he could be hanging up his boots with quick impact.

Pique’s retirement dominated all pre-match dialogue going into the sport, which turned out to be a relatively low-key affair because the Blaugrana breezed to a 2-0 victory.

Pique was substituted shortly earlier than full-time, permitting the defender to revel within the love of the Barcelona supporters within the stadium and shifting him to tears.

Talking after the sport, left-back Alba supplied his ideas on his teammate of 10 years.

“I really feel sorry. I am grateful for all the pieces he is given to all of us,” Alba instructed reporters after the sport.

“He is finished rather a lot for the membership. In the long run it is a disgrace. His absence might be observed. Not solely in soccer, however in human phrases. It’s the regulation of life.

“He has left his soul in each recreation. It is a disgrace. An essential piece of the dressing room is leaving. We’re going to miss him rather a lot. Individuals realise and are conscious of all the pieces he has given Barcelona. Let’s strive win titles to dedicate to him.”

Alba additionally admitted that even Pique’s teammates have been caught off guard by the timing of Pique’s retirement.

“The mentality of the match has been totally different,” he mentioned. “We performed for the three factors. We did not know that he would give the information so quickly. It was a really arduous recreation. It was a tough day, totally different.”

Additionally fast to pay tribute to Pique was midfielder Busquets, who has performed along with Pique since 2009.

“Gerard leaves a spectacular legacy. He has made historical past,” mentioned Busquets.

“He has gone out of his approach for the membership. He has created an unimaginable ambiance. He’s the instance of what a Barça participant is and what he has to do.”

Pique, Alba and Busquets have gained an array of titles collectively for Barcelona, together with 5 league titles and the Champions League in 2015.