• Pique starred for Barca between 2009 and 2022
• Made over 600 appearances for the Catalan club
• Picked Cubarsi over Yamal as his preferred player

WHAT HAPPENED?

Widely regarded as one of the finest goalscoring defenders of his era, Pique donned the Blaugrana colours for over a decade, amassing more than 600 appearances and contributing 53 goals and 13 assists across all competitions. His remarkable career saw him lift 29 trophies, including nine La Liga titles and three UEFA Champions League trophies, two of which were part of historic trebles in 2008-09 and 2014-15.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Since hanging up his boots in 2022, Pique has focused on ventures like the Kings’ League. However, he remains a loyal supporter of Barcelona, staying informed about developments at his boyhood club.

WHAT PIQUE SAID

In a recent interaction, Pique was asked to name his favourite player from Barcelona’s current squad. Many expected him to choose Yamal, the 17-year-old prodigy who is a product of La Masia and has quickly become a key figure for Barcelona. However, he surprised everyone by naming Cubarsi, as his favourite.

“Everyone will say Lamine, but for me, it’s Pau Cubarsi," he said.

As a former centre-back who dominated the position for years, Pique likely sees shades of himself in the young defender. Cubarsi has shown promise with two assists in 47 appearances across competitions, including one goal in 23 outings this season.

DID YOU KNOW?

During the same conversation, Pique also reflected on the clubs he most respects. In Spain, he named Real Madrid as his most respected rival, while Bayern Munich hold that honour on the European stage.

WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

Barcelona have been thriving under the guidance of new manager Hansi Flick. The team sits atop the La Liga standings after 17 games, holding a two-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid, albeit having played an extra match. The club’s next challenge will be against Leganes on Sunday, as they aim to maintain their position at the summit of La Liga.