Gerard Pique packs on PDA as Barcelona star hugs and kisses new girlfriend 12 years his junior after Shakira split
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GERARD PIQUE put on a public display of affection by kissing and hugging his new girlfriend after his emotional Barcelona farewell tribute.
The 35-year-old dad-of-two, whose two sons also attended the celebration, showed he has nothing to hide now his 11-year relationship with Colombian singer Shakira is over.
He locked lips with Clara Chia, 23, and put his arms round her.
The pair cuddled up to each other as they chatted with friends in the stands at the Camp Nou after Pique played his last game for Barcelona and retired from professional football.
Spanish sports television network Gol Play filmed the memorable moment and wrote alongside the footage it posted on Twitter Gol Direct: “The first kiss of @gerardpique after the tribute.
“The centre back shared this special day with his loved ones.”
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A match commentator said as a cameraman approached Pique and Clara and they realised their romantic scene was being filmed but continued to embrace each other: “Look at this image.
“Gerard Pique’s first kiss after receiving the tribute from the Camp Nou spectators.
“Happy, satisfied, accompanied by his family and those who most love him.
“It’s the last image Gerard Pique has left us with on his day, on the day he said goodbye to his team.”
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The former Man Utd defender shocked the football world on Thursday by announcing on his Twitter Saturday’s game against Almeria would be his last in a Barcelona shirt and his final game as a professional footballer.
He made 397 appearances for the Catalan giants, scoring 29 times, and was capped 102 times for Spain at senior level.
He said in an emotional message accompanying footage of him gazing over the Catalan capital from a balcony and throwback pictures and video of him as a young child in a Barcelona shirt: “It’s been 25 years since I joined Barca.
"I left and I came back. Football has given me everything. You, culés, have given me everything.
“And now that all that kid’s dreams have come true, I want to tell you that now is the time to bring this journey to an end.”
Confirming he was quitting professional football halfway through the season, he added: “I will become a regular fan, I will support the team, I will pass my love for Barca to my children, like my family did with me.”
Pique made a tearful speech on the pitch at Camp Nou on Saturday night, saying “I was born here and I will die here” after playing in most of Barcelona’s 2-0 victory before being substituted late on to rapturous applause from home fans.
The football star’s relationship with Barcelona-born beauty Clara emerged shortly after he and Shakira announced in May they had split after 11 years and two children together.
His personal life has been under the media spotlight ever since and has been cited as one of the reasons for his shock football retirement decision.
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Pique and Clara are said to have met at his firm Kosmos where she works.
Spanish news website Niusdiario reported last week the couple are now living together at Pique’s luxury city centre penthouse apartment in Barcelona and are planning to start a family.
