Spanish football icon Gerard Pique is reportedly making a return to the pitch, signing with a team he owns.

The 38-year-old former defender is believed to have joined FC Andorra, a second-division club that he acquired in 2018 through his investment firm, Kosmos. Back then, the team was playing in the fifth tier of Spanish football.

Although neither FC Andorra’s official social media accounts nor their website have confirmed this development, Spanish media outlet RTVA claims the club has made an announcement about Pique’s signing.

Pique retired from professional football in 2022 after a distinguished career, primarily with Barcelona. He transferred from Manchester United to the Catalan giants in 2008.

His move to Barcelona proved to be a wise investment, costing the club £5 million. During his tenure, Pique helped secure nine LaLiga championships and three Champions League titles, amassing a total of 30 trophies. Additionally, he was instrumental in Spain’s victories in the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship.

Gerard Pique has reportedly signed for FC Andorra, a team he owns, three years after retiring

Since retiring—and following his separation from singer Shakira just five months prior—Pique has remained actively engaged in the world of football.

Not long after retiring he launched the Kings League, a seven-a-side, celebrity-driven football tournament.

The Kings League recently agreed a global broadcast deal with streaming giants DAZN, according to Sport Business. 

In his final address to the Nou Camp faithful in his final game against Almeria, he vowed to one day return to Barcelona.

He said: ‘In life, when you get older, you realize that sometimes to love is to let go.

‘I’m convinced that I’ll be here again in the future. I love Barca. That’s why I consider it’s the right moment to go.

‘This is not a goodbye. I was born here, I’ll die here.’

He is also keen to reform the traditional game itself. Earlier this year, he suggested a radical rule change to revolutionise the sport. 

Since retiring, he has helped form the Kings League which includes the likes of Brazil legend Ronaldinho (left) and combines Twitch streaming and elite-level football in five-a-side games

Pique has been outspoken about football’s need to evolve if it is to retain younger audiences

Speaking on a podcast hosted by his former Spain team-mate Iker Casillas, Pique said: ‘It can’t be that you go to a football stadium, spend €100, €200 or €300 and the match ends 0-0.

‘Something needs to change. One proposal to consider would be that if the match ends 0-0, the teams would score zero points.
‘The match would open in the 70th minute.’

That was not the first time Pique has urged for a radical change to football’s rules. Speaking last year, the World Cup winner suggested scrapping draws from the game entirely.

‘Football is entertainment, so it is not just competing with other sports,’ he said.

‘It competes with Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, TikTok. Everyone has limited time. Football for 90 minutes is not as exciting.’

‘Maybe there are no draws, why not? In baseball and basketball there are no draws. You go to a game and it ends with a draw and the feeling is, “Who won?”

‘Football is afraid of change. It has a huge history, it is very traditional, but change will happen, it has to happen. A 90-minute game that can finish 0-0 is difficult to understand for the new generation.’

But sadly for those who agree with Pique’s innovative ideas, it doesn’t look like he will be plunging himself into the world of football administration any time soon.

When asked if he might be better placed at lawmakers FIFA an UEFA, he added: ‘Very boring. You cannot change a lot. With the processes, the committees, it’s a nightmare.’