Another player is set to enter Barcelona’s 300 LaLiga Santander appearance club as Gerard Pique will reach that landmark when he plays in Saturday’s game against Ronaldo Luiz Nazario owned Real Valladolid. The figure of 300 top flight appearances in the top tier was reached at the beginning of the season as he already had 22 games under his belt during a loan spell with Real Zaragoza, during his time as a Manchester United player.
However, on Saturday, he will reach that milestone with the club that he loves. The achievement comes at a time when Pique is outstanding form, too. The defender is essential at the back and has been key in ensuring Barcelona have not been found out in recent matches, along with the performances of Marc-Andre ter Stegen. In 299 games, Pique has left the field with a clean sheet to show for his efforts on 130 occasions.
The 32-year-old has only been sent off six times, while he has won 226 of the 299 games and picked up seven league titles in 11 years. His place in Barcelona folklore is already assured and is set to continue long after he hangs up his boots. On more than one occasion, he has admitted that he aspires to be involved in the Barcelona boardroom once he retires and wants to be president. He would certainly seem to have the talent and popularity for it.
Meanwhile, Gerard Pique and his Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi have enjoyed successes on the football pitch together and now they are looking to do the same away from the pitch. The defender was asked what it was like for his Argentine teammate to be involved in a project like the Davis Cup: “Leo is delighted because he’s a member of Kosmos and therefore part of this Davis Cup,” Pique said. “We’ve known each other since he came to the club and we share interest in sports. Tennis and the Davis Cup are included in them.”
Pique admitted that Messi has not been playing the sport, but he does have other teammates who he plays with, including former Barcelona player Cesc Fabregas, though he wouldn’t say who won the games between the two.