<p>Gerard Pique played his last game at Camp Nou on Saturday in Barcelona's 2-0 win over Almeria and told fans he would be back during an emotional speech.</p>.<p>The 35-year-old centre-back, who has won 30 trophies with the club, including three Champions League titles and eight La Ligas, will retire from football after Tuesday's visit to Osasuna.</p>.<p>Pique, who was cheered by fans throughout the game after more than 14 years in Barcelona's first-team squad, enjoyed a lap of honour at the end of the game and was tossed into the air by his team-mates, as over 92,000 fans stayed in Camp Nou to pay homage to him.</p>.<p>"Thanks to my team-mates, the staff and everyone who helps us to make everything so easy," Pique said in a speech to the supporters after the game.</p>.<p>"To the board as well, for these years. When you get older, sometimes loving is letting go.</p>.<p>"After a relationship of such love and passion, I think it was the moment to leave some space, to give some air. I am sure in the future I will be back here again.</p>.<p>"It's not a goodbye. I left after 17 years to get some air. My grandfather made me a club member. I was born here and I will die here."</p>.<p>Pique, who won the 2010 World Cup and 2012 Euros with Spain, shed tears during his speech, and also kicked a ball around on the pitch with his children as fans finally departed.</p>.<p>He received some individual accolades at a private reception in Camp Nou from president Joan Laporta and the board, before speaking on television again.</p>.<p>"Your career is a lot of years, games titles, but what you keep with you are the friendships, the nights, playing in the World Cup, the Euros," Pique told DAZN.</p>.<p>"The trophies are there, they are a number, they are metal, but what stays with you are the friendships."</p>.<p>The defender, who has previously said he would like to be Barcelona president in the future, said he would take some time away from the club, but again pointed out a return was inevitable.</p>.<p>"I've got a thousand things to do, I'll get organised," said Pique, who has already moved into sport related business.</p>.<p>He is a founder and president of Kosmos Holdings which has revamped the Davis Cup in tennis, is involved in lower-league football clubs in Spain and Andorra and has bought some international football TV rights.</p>.<p>"This is my home, at some point I will return. It's the moment to part ways for a time and come back stronger. I'll enjoy some time with my family and friends, I'm looking forward to starting my new life.</p>.<p>"(Being replaced) was a weight off my shoulders, the last few months have not been easy. I go with the satisfaction that I've given everything.</p>.<p>"Sometimes it goes better, sometimes worse, but I've given everything. That makes me proud. I'm leaving calmly, happily, with my homework done."</p>.<p>When he was replaced in the final stages of the game, each of his team-mates embraced him on the pitch one by one, as fans chanted his name.</p>.<p>"Gerard leaves a spectacular legacy, he has turned the club into one of the greatest in the world, he has gone out of his way for the club," Busquets told DAZN.</p>.<p>"He has made history. He's an example of what a Barca player is, and what you have to do."</p>.<p>Ousmane Dembele and Frenkie de Jong's strikes earned Barcelona a victory which put them top of the league, at least until Real Madrid face Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.</p>.<p>Pique's departure came after a spell in which the defender had been criticised for some of his performances, and had dropped to fifth-choice centre-back.</p>.<p>Fans have praised the Catalan defender for leaving, amid a period of generational change for Barcelona, with president Joan Laporta saying Pique's departure will also save the club money as they look to reach a contract termination deal.</p>.<p>Other veteran players, including Busquets, who is out of contract at the end of the season, and Jordi Alba, will follow sooner or later.</p>.<p>"It's not up to me to have a goodbye like this, I've been a Barca fan all my life, I've had more or less the same trajectory (as Pique)," said Alba.</p>.<p>"I would be happy with what Geri had, that's for sure. The fans have always respected us and when a player of that quality leaves, they show it. I hope when I go, and may that be as late as possible, that it's like Geri's."</p>
<p>Gerard Pique played his last game at Camp Nou on Saturday in Barcelona's 2-0 win over Almeria and told fans he would be back during an emotional speech.</p>.<p>The 35-year-old centre-back, who has won 30 trophies with the club, including three Champions League titles and eight La Ligas, will retire from football after Tuesday's visit to Osasuna.</p>.<p>Pique, who was cheered by fans throughout the game after more than 14 years in Barcelona's first-team squad, enjoyed a lap of honour at the end of the game and was tossed into the air by his team-mates, as over 92,000 fans stayed in Camp Nou to pay homage to him.</p>.<p>"Thanks to my team-mates, the staff and everyone who helps us to make everything so easy," Pique said in a speech to the supporters after the game.</p>.<p>"To the board as well, for these years. When you get older, sometimes loving is letting go.</p>.<p>"After a relationship of such love and passion, I think it was the moment to leave some space, to give some air. I am sure in the future I will be back here again.</p>.<p>"It's not a goodbye. I left after 17 years to get some air. My grandfather made me a club member. I was born here and I will die here."</p>.<p>Pique, who won the 2010 World Cup and 2012 Euros with Spain, shed tears during his speech, and also kicked a ball around on the pitch with his children as fans finally departed.</p>.<p>He received some individual accolades at a private reception in Camp Nou from president Joan Laporta and the board, before speaking on television again.</p>.<p>"Your career is a lot of years, games titles, but what you keep with you are the friendships, the nights, playing in the World Cup, the Euros," Pique told DAZN.</p>.<p>"The trophies are there, they are a number, they are metal, but what stays with you are the friendships."</p>.<p>The defender, who has previously said he would like to be Barcelona president in the future, said he would take some time away from the club, but again pointed out a return was inevitable.</p>.<p>"I've got a thousand things to do, I'll get organised," said Pique, who has already moved into sport related business.</p>.<p>He is a founder and president of Kosmos Holdings which has revamped the Davis Cup in tennis, is involved in lower-league football clubs in Spain and Andorra and has bought some international football TV rights.</p>.<p>"This is my home, at some point I will return. It's the moment to part ways for a time and come back stronger. I'll enjoy some time with my family and friends, I'm looking forward to starting my new life.</p>.<p>"(Being replaced) was a weight off my shoulders, the last few months have not been easy. I go with the satisfaction that I've given everything.</p>.<p>"Sometimes it goes better, sometimes worse, but I've given everything. That makes me proud. I'm leaving calmly, happily, with my homework done."</p>.<p>When he was replaced in the final stages of the game, each of his team-mates embraced him on the pitch one by one, as fans chanted his name.</p>.<p>"Gerard leaves a spectacular legacy, he has turned the club into one of the greatest in the world, he has gone out of his way for the club," Busquets told DAZN.</p>.<p>"He has made history. He's an example of what a Barca player is, and what you have to do."</p>.<p>Ousmane Dembele and Frenkie de Jong's strikes earned Barcelona a victory which put them top of the league, at least until Real Madrid face Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.</p>.<p>Pique's departure came after a spell in which the defender had been criticised for some of his performances, and had dropped to fifth-choice centre-back.</p>.<p>Fans have praised the Catalan defender for leaving, amid a period of generational change for Barcelona, with president Joan Laporta saying Pique's departure will also save the club money as they look to reach a contract termination deal.</p>.<p>Other veteran players, including Busquets, who is out of contract at the end of the season, and Jordi Alba, will follow sooner or later.</p>.<p>"It's not up to me to have a goodbye like this, I've been a Barca fan all my life, I've had more or less the same trajectory (as Pique)," said Alba.</p>.<p>"I would be happy with what Geri had, that's for sure. The fans have always respected us and when a player of that quality leaves, they show it. I hope when I go, and may that be as late as possible, that it's like Geri's."</p>