Barcelona's top 10 academy graduates

Modified Jan 05, 2020 17:37 GMT

Lionel Messi is just one great player to be produced by Barcelona's academy

#8 Gerard Pique

Gerard Pique is one of Barcelona's best ever defenders

A rare example of a La Masia graduate who initially made a mark elsewhere, central defender Gerard Pique joined Barcelona as a 10-year old, but then moved to Manchester United prior to signing his first professional contract with the club. The Spaniard struggled in England – facing criticism for his performances in the 2007-08 season – and then made a move back to the Nou Camp for just £5m.

Despite being labelled a flop by Red Devils fans, it didn’t take long for Pique to settle in back at his boyhood club; 2008-09 saw him make 45 appearances for La Blaugrana, scoring 3 goals along the way and forming a strong defensive partnership with Carles Puyol. Barcelona won La Liga that season, also claimed the Copa del Rey, and most importantly, defeated Pique’s old club Manchester United in the final of the Champions League. It was the ultimate revenge for the defender.

Since his move back to Catalonia, Pique has basically been an ever-present in Barca’s first XI. He’s made over 500 appearances at the club, and is currently in the midst of his 12th season at the Nou Camp. He’s also one of their most decorated players, with a total of 28 major trophies to his name.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

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Edited by A. Ayush Chatterjee