Harry Fletcher
Nov 04, 2022
IndyTV
Gerard Pique has shocked the world of football by announcing his retirement at the age of 35.
However, as well as people thanking him for his career, social media users wasted no time before piling on with Shakira jokes.
Pique posted a video thanking fans and confirming that the game this Saturday against Almeria in La Liga would be the last of his career.
Announcing the news he said his “childhood dreams have been fulfilled.”
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“Like many of you, coming from a fútbol family, I have always been a Barcelona fan,” he said.
“I did not want to be a fútboler, I wanted to play for Barca… fútbol has given me everything, Barca has given me everything. You the fans have given me everything… The moment has arrived to close this chapter.”
\u201cCulers, us he de dir una cosa.\u201d— Gerard Piqu\u00e9 (@Gerard Piqu\u00e9) 1667496967
Thousands have been supportive of Pique and thanked him for his career, which saw him win eight La Liga titles, three champions leagues and the 2010 world cup.
However, others weren’t so kind. Some recirculated a rumour that Pique decided to retire because Shakira’s name could soon be on Barcelona shirts as part of the club’s partnership with Spotify.
Barcelona recently put Drake on the front of the shirt as the sponsorship deal involves putting some of the platform’s most popular artists on their kits.
“Piqué retires so as not to have to wear the shirt with the Shakira ad,” one tweeted, as the reactions came flooding in.
\u201cPiqu\u00e9 se retira para no tener que llevar la camiseta con el anuncio de Shakira.\u201d— Kobra (@Kobra) 1667498533
\u201cSince Pique is retiring, let\u2019s not forget that Shakira with Waka Waka did more for football than him. \n\n\u201d— \u00b9 \u02e3 \u00b9\u00b9 (@\u00b9 \u02e3 \u00b9\u00b9) 1667499054
\u201cGerard Piqu\u00e9 se retira del F\u00fatbol \nShakira ahora mismo ...\u201d— Zeta (@Zeta) 1667501289
\u201cShakira con 'Waka Waka' y 'La la la Brazil' hizo m\u00e1s por el f\u00fatbol que Gerard Piqu\u00e9. No lo olvidaremos.\u201d— Juan Diego Correa (@Juan Diego Correa) 1667504799
\u201cBar\u00e7a: la pr\u00f3xima camisa que usaremos en el Spotify Camp ser\u00e1 con el logo de Shakira \n\nAutom\u00e1ticamente Piqu\u00e9:\u201d— Gravesen (@Gravesen) 1667498597
\u201cHe lefted just after hearing of shakira sponsoring barca shirt \ud83d\ude2d\nWhat a legend!\u201d— Jeeko (@Jeeko) 1667548979
Meanwhile, it comes as Shakira is facing up to eight years in jail after being ordered to stand trial amid allegations of tax fraud.
The 45-year-old Colombian singer has been accused of not paying taxes in Spain between 2012 and 2014, and six prosecutors have convinced a Spanish court to bring the singer to trial.
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