Pique’s retirement opens door for Barcelona to sign several players in January – report

On Thursday night, Gerard Pique made the shock announcement of his imminent retirement from football. The Barcelona defender confirmed that he will be playing his last home game for the club against UD Almeria this weekend.

One of the greatest defenders to have represented the club, Pique had fallen down the pecking order this season. Given his reduced importance in the side and his steep wages, Barcelona had been looking for ways to offload him.

But before matters came to that, Pique himself decided to hang up his boots. This development will free up a massive chunk of Barça’s wages, given that the 35-year-old was one of the highest-earning players on the club’s books.

And according to journalist Edu Polo on Jijantes FC, this opens the door for Barcelona to make several signings in the winter transfer window, while also enabling them to make a top-quality addition such as Bernardo Silva of Manchester City.

It is no secret that Barcelona have been struggling with Financial Fair Play problems in La Liga which impacted their transfer business in the summer while it was going to dictate how they operated in the January window as well.

But with Pique now confirming that he will be stepping down and renouncing his contract, it paves the way for the Blaugrana to recruit multiple players in the winter window, as their wages would be considerably lower than what the defender has been earning at Spotify Camp Nou.

Edu Polo particularly mentions the name of Bernardo Silva, who had been one of Barcelona’s main targets last summer. The club even made a late attempt to lure him away from Man City but were unable to do so. And it is unlikely that the Premier League champions will let him leave midway through the season.

Barcelona, for their part, have made a right-back and a pivot midfielder their priority. With Pique’s departure confirmed, they should be able to reinforce those positions in the winter.