La Liga heavyweights Barcelona are reportedly keen on getting Gerard Pique off the books and will look to accelerate his departure.
According to a report by Spanish publication SPORT, Gerard Pique might be on borrowed time at FC Barcelona. The Catalan giants want to ensure that 2022/23 is his final season at Spotify Camp Nou and will look to terminate his contract in the 2023 summer transfer window.
Gerard Pique is one of the greatest ever defenders to have graced the game, scripting a lasting legacy at FC Barcelona. The veteran Spanish defender rejoined the Blaugrana nearly a decade and a half ago. And he has been a mainstay at the back for much of his second stint with Barcelona.
The 35-year-old has turned out 613 times thus far for Barcelona, chipping in with 53 goals and 15 assists. Pique has also won 30 trophies with the Catalan outfit while lifting the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship with Spain. But the player has endured a 2022/23 season to forget in the first two months.
The former Spanish international has dropped to the bottom of the pecking order for centre-backs. Xavi Hernandez’s decision came after Barcelona signed Andreas Christensen and Jules Kounde in the summer transfer window. So Kounde and Ronald Araujo are the first-choice centre-backs, with Christensen and Eric Garcia also ahead of Pique.
The veteran defender has still managed seven appearances for Barcelona this season, thanks to the injury crisis that has engulfed the Blaugrana. But Pique has not been convincing enough in most of his outings. And the Barcelona fans jeered him during the recent La Liga game against Villarreal.
And Pique’s worst performance came against Inter Milan, where he was at fault for dropped points by Barcelona. So with things going from bad to worse, the Catalan giants have decided to offload the 35-year-old as soon as possible.
The report claims Barcelona will look to get Pique off the books in the January transfer window, although that seems unlikely. But they hope to offload the veteran ace in the summer transfer window when Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba might also leave. And with Inigo Martinez on their radar, they will have a readymade replacement coming in if things go their way.
