Barcelona Forces Gerard Pique Out of Retirement As Spanish Defender Is Named in Squad to Face Osasuna

• Barcelona plans to bring Gerard Pique out of retirement as the Catalans include the 35-year-old in their squad to face Osasuna
• Barcelona has been ravaged by injuries ahead of the tie, with French defender Jules Kounde failing to recover in time for the fixture
• Pique announced a shocking decision to bring down the curtain on his stellar career last week, after a successful career with Barcelona

Gerard Pique’s retirement from football has been put on hold by Barcelona, after the 35-year-old defender was listed in the Spanish giant’s team to face Osasuna.

Barcelona will tackle Osasuna at Estadio El Sadar on Thursday, November 8, as Xavi’s men look to extend their lead at the top of the La Liga table following Real Madrid’s shock loss.

According to Football Espana, Pique could be pressed into unexpected action again for the Catalan giants, after injuries depleted the Barca squad ahead of the game.

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French defender, Jules Kounde has failed to recover in time for the Osasuna game, prompting Xavi to recall Pique back into the Barcelona squad despite his shock retirement.

Pique said his farewell to Barcelona fans at Camp Nou over the weekend, when the Catalans secured a hard-fought 2-0 win against Almeria to go to the summit of the La Liga table.

Barcelona bids to extend lead

Meanwhile, Barcelona will hope to extend their over Real Madrid at the top of the La Liga table as they play away to Osasuna at Estadio El Sadar on Tuesday night, SB Nation reports.

Barcelona already sits two points above their arch-rivals after Real Madrid’s shock 3-2 loss to Real Valladolid. Xavi’s men will hope to extend that lead to 5 points with a win.

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The game against Osasuna will be Barcelona’s final La Liga game before the commencement of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which begins on November 20 in Qatar.

Pique announces retirement from football

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has announced that he will retire from football when the Spanish league breaks for the World Cup this month.

According to the 35-year-old, Saturday's La Liga game against Almeria was to be his last for the Blaugrana at Camp Nou.

The central defender has spent 14 years in the first team, following his return from Manchester United in 2008.