Barcelona star Gerard Pique trains for final match at Camp Nou - in pictures

Match against Almeria on Saturday will be Catalan veteran's last at home ground

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique attends a training session at the Camp Nou. Pique has announced his retirement, stating that Saturday's game against Almeria will be his last at Camp Nou. EPA

Barcelona's Gerard Pique with Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Frenkie de Jong during training. Reuters

FC Barcelona's defender Gerard Pique attends a training session at the Spotify Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, 04 November 2022, ahead of LaLiga match between FC Barcelona and UD Almeria on 05 November. The named match will be the last one of Pique as a professional player, as he announced on 03 November he is to retire. EPA / ALEJANDRO GARCIA

Barcelona's Gerard Pique with Ansu Fati and teammates during training. Reuters

Gerard Pique with Ousmane Dembele and Barcelona teammates during training. Reuters

Barcelona's defender Gerard Pique trains at Camp Nou. EPA

Gerard Pique trains after announcing his retirement. EPA

Gerard Pique trains for Saturday's match against Almeria. EPA

Gerard Pique during training. EPA

Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez leads a training session. EPA

Barcelona president Joan Laporta oversees his team's training session. EPA

It was an emotional training session for Gerard Pique after the Barcelona veteran announced his retirement on Thursday, saying "the moment has come to end this journey".

Pique, 35, said in a video posted on social media that Saturday's league clash with Almeria will be his last at Barcelona's Camp Nou after 14 years with the Catalan giants. He will also be available for the club's final game before the World Cup at Osasuna on Tuesday.

"Saturday's match [against Almeria] will be my last at the Camp Nou," Pique posted on Twitter.

"I wanted to tell you that I've decided the moment has come to end this journey," he said in a video clip of the star watching images of himself as a small boy wearing the Barcelona shirt, or chasing after autographs.

"There's no other team after Barca. I'm going to become a super fan, I'll be supporting the team and pass on my love for Barca to my son."

The Spaniard helped Barca to eight La Liga crowns, seven Copas del Rey and three Champions League titles in 2009, 2011 and 2015.

Pique takes his leave with Barca knocked out of the Champions League for the second season running.

Manager Xavi Hernandez says he understands Pique's decision to retire halfway through the season.

This season Xavi has only called on him because of injuries, with Pique behind Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen in the pecking order at centre-back.

"They are tough circumstances for him, that have led to him quitting," Xavi said on Friday.

"Playing less, being less useful, I went through this situation too and it's normal to step aside. He deserves every commendation and for Barcelona fans to honour him, as he is a club legend."

Gerard Pique of Spain holds the World Cup aloft after the 2010 final against Netherlands at Soccer City Stadium on July 11, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Spain won the match 1-0. Getty Images

Lionel Messi, right, was a longtime Barcelona teammate of Gerard Pique before the former's departure for PSG in 2021. On Thursday Pique announced Saturday's La Liga match against Almeria will be his final match for the club at Camp Nou. Getty Images

Barcelona's defender Gerard Pique and his son Milan celebrate with the Champions League trophy after their win over Juventus at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin in 2015. AFP

Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi, now first-team coach, celebrates with Gerard Pique after Pique scored their team's third goal during the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Shakhtar Donetsk at Camp Nou on April 6, 2011 in Barcelona, Spain. Getty Images

Gerard Pique of Spain celebrates with the trophy after the Euro 2012 final victory against Italy at the Olympic Stadium on July 1, 2012 in Kiev, Ukraine. Getty Images

Gerard Pique, right, of Spain celebrates scoring his team's first goal with his teammate Sergio Ramos during the Euro 2016 Group D match against Czech Republic at Stadium Municipal on June 13, 2016 in Toulouse, France. Getty Images

Carles Puyol, left, formed a formidable defensive partnership with Gerard Pique during their time together at Barcelona. Getty Images

Gerard Pique and then partner Shakira pose with the trophy after Barcelona won the Copa del Rey final against Athletic at Camp Nou on May 30, 2015 in Barcelona, Spain. The pair announced a split in June 2022. Getty Images

Barcelona's Gerard Pique celebrates scoring their fourth goal during the Champions League match between Barcelona and Lyon in 2019. Reuters

Gerard Pique developed into one of the world's most accomplished defenders under the guidance of Pep Guardiola after signing for Barcelona in 2009. Getty Images

Gerard Pique, left, of Spain clears the ball under pressure from England's David Beckham during his first international match for Spain in a friendly at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium on February 11, 2009 in Seville, Spain. Getty Images

Barcelona's Gerard Pique sits on the bench before the La Liga match against Valencia on 29 October 2022. EPA

Gerard Pique, right, spent four years on Manchester United's books from 2004 to 2008, playing alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, centre, and Nemanja Vidic. Getty Images

Gerard Pique of Manchester United celebrates scoring the opening goal with teammate Nemanja Vidic during the Champions League Group F match against Dynamo Kyiv at Old Trafford on November 7, 2007 in Manchester, England. Getty Images

Gerard Pique poses with Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United while holding a United scarf after signing for Manchester United on July 1, 2004 at Carrington Training Ground in Manchester, England. Getty Images