Gerard Pique intends to stay at Barcelona for the rest of his career after describing the club as his “family” and his “life”.
The central defender came through the youth academy at the club and, apart from a four year spell with Manchester United and a brief loan spell at Real Zaragoza, has spent his whole career at the Camp Nou.
The 26-year-old has made over 100 appearances for the club since returning from England in 2008, and has built a formidable defensive partnership with Carles Puyol that enabled Barcelona to dominate Spanish and European football and helped Spain win the FIFA World Cup.
However, injuries to Puyol broke up that partnership last season and Barcelona’s defensive performances drew criticism as they looked shaky against quality European sides like Milan and Bayern Munich.
Throughout the campaign, a few under-par performances also raised questions about Pique’s future in Catalonia – but he has insisted he does not want to leave and expects to end his career playing for the club he supported as a boy.
“Barca are my family, my life,” he said. “In life you never know, you cannot say you’re not going to do. It’s true that [my future] depends on many factors, but come on, the club are my life.
“I was born in Barcelona, I live there, they’re my family, my home and it’s certainly where I want to stay.
“For most of my career, I’ve been here with the exception of a spell at Manchester United, but this is where I want to be for many more years and this is where I want to finish my career.”
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