Pique's retirement not all bad news for Barca

Gerard Pique - one of Barcelona and Spain's all-time greats - has announced his shock retirement from football. This Saturday will be the 35-year-old's final game for his beloved club, the culmination of a legendary career, but also the climax of a chaotic few months during which he endured a high-profile break-up with Shakira and was at loggerheads with his paymasters.

The Spanish defender, who has enjoyed 14 glittering years with Barcelona, will play his last game against Almeria at the Nou Camp. It will bring the curtain down on one of the great modern careers, with Pique having formed a key part of a number of great Barcelona teams in addition to having won a European Championship and the World Cup with the national side.

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The reception he will be given by Barcelona fans will be fascinating. He remains a popular figure with many but was booed by supporters during a Las Vegas friendly against Real Madrid earlier this year after his split with Shakira, and again more recently this month for refusing to take a pay cut. The debt-ridden club are desperate to get rid of aging stars on bloated wage packets.

Club vice president Eduard Romeu admitted recently that they are being crippled by those contracts. Romeu said Barcelona had a net debt of €608 million (£534m) as of June. “What throws us off is the amount we spend on our player salaries,” Romeu said. “There are a group of (contracts) that have a very important cost and between this season and the next they will disappear.”

Pique ends on a low

Pique's decision to retire will alleviate some of those financial woes and no doubt that decision will be well received by supporters. While Pique's personal life has been splashed across the front pages in recent months, his success on the pitch has also been on the downturn. His mistake against Inter in the Champions League  was seen by many as the final nail in the coffin of their European campaign.