Barça has kicked off its 2021-22 season in an unfamiliar - Messi-less - football universe. But another of the club's brightest stars has stepped up to lead the way over the last 24 hours: Gerard Piqué. The FC Barcelona defender has been a protagonist in both sporting and non-sporting terms. And he also made the news in a third way: through a nostalgic video that he shared on social media.
Gerard Piqué and Ronald Koeman almost 30 years ago
It could be said that yesterday was a round success for Piqué for many reasons. He scored his first goal of the season, helped the team beat Real Sociedad (4-2) in a promising start to a new season and new era, and in the after-match, he spoke to the press. Moreover, the club announced on Saturday that it was Piqué's agreement to take a substantial last-minute pay-cut which enabled three new Barça players to be registered in the League, within the Financial Fair-Play limitations which the club has to abide by.
Gerard Piqué celebrating a goal with Barça and kissing the badge / FC Barcelona
And as well as all this, he wanted to talk about a little vignette from his past that he shared on Twitter. Piqué posted a video of himself with Ronald Koeman almost 30 years ago. It was February 2nd, 1992, the day he turned 5 years old, when he was photographed and videoed with the current Barça coach, then one of the team's star players, as well as asking him for an autograph.
Thus, the young Piqué obtained the signature of the footballer who, a few months later, became Barça's hero of Wembley. A goal from the Dutchman in the 111th minute in the final against Sampdoria allowed Barça to lift the first European Cup in its history, at the emblematic English stadium.
Gerard Piqué speaks on Twitch
But that was not the end of Gerard Piqué's day, as the Catalan defender ended up going to bed late because he had made himself available for more interaction with fans. As soon as he got home after winning the 2021/22 League debut match, he was kept busy on the live-streaming platform Twitch answering questions and talking to internet celebrity Ibai Llanos.
The Barcelona centre-back ended up being critical of Josep Maria Bartomeu and offering praise of the work of Joan Laporta. But he also analyzed the current situation, being upbeat about the future of Barça despite the departure of Leo Messi, making comparisons between Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé, and responding to the audios of Real Madrid boss Florentino Pérez.
Gerard Piqué waves to the crowd / EFE
A Gerard Piqué who speaks when he wants and who dominates all situations, on and off the field, like no other. Piqué talking to Ibai, talking to the press, or just sharing a video never seen before that has now gone viral and that moves the culers. Brilliant in every sense and the new idol of Barça fans. Proof of this are the Barça fans continuously chanting his name during the match against Real Sociedad.
Main image: Gerard Piqué and Ronald Koeman embracing during a Barça match / EFE