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Gerard PiqueSpanish footballer, defender of Barcelona
Date of Birth: 02.02.1987
Country:  Spain |
Content:
Biography of Gerard Piqué
Gerard Piqué is a Spanish football player and defender for Barcelona. He is a product of the Barcelona youth academy and was acquired by Manchester United on July 1, 2004. He went on loan to Real Zaragoza during the 2006-2007 season.
Early Life and Career
Gerard Piqué is the grandson of the famous former vice president of FC Barcelona, Amador Bernabeu. He began his football career at the Barcelona youth club and was signed by Manchester United on July 1, 2004. Piqué made his debut in the starting lineup for Manchester United in a match against Exeter in the third round of the FA Cup. He also regularly played for the reserve team under the guidance of Ricky Sbragia. In February 2005, he extended his contract with the club until the summer of 2009. Piqué played his first match and scored his first goal in the UEFA Champions League on November 7, 2007, against Dynamo Kyiv (4-0).
Return to Barcelona
On May 27, 2008, Piqué, who had not been able to establish himself at Manchester United (playing only 23 official games and scoring 2 goals), signed a four-year contract with Barcelona with a buyout clause of 50 million euros. Upon his return to his hometown club, Piqué's talent quickly shone through. He quickly became a regular starter, replacing the injured Gabriel Milito, and played an active role in Barcelona's success in 2009. No one will forget his only goal of the 2008-09 season, but arguably the most important goal of his career, when he sealed the final score in El Clásico on May 2, 2009 (2-6).
Career Highlights and Achievements
At the end of the 2008-09 season, Piqué was nominated by UEFA for the title of the best defender of the season along with John Terry and Nemanja Vidic, but the award went to Terry. On February 26, 2010, Gerard Piqué extended his contract with Barcelona until 2015. The release clause for him increased fourfold, reaching 200 million euros. Club president Joan Laporta said, "This is a historic day. The extension of Gerard's contract means that we have an excellent player for many years. His attitude, knowledge, and dedication make him a symbol of the club. I am confident that he will become the captain of Barça in the future." Piqué is only the third player to win the UEFA Champions League title two years in a row. In the 2007-08 season, he won the title with Manchester United, and the following season, he repeated his success with Barcelona.
