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Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has startled some fans after he was spotted with a Chelsea bag at Wimbledon in England. The 35-year-old defender has been in the news recently following his break up with long-time partner and pop star Shakira.
According to Marca (via The Mirror), the defender paid a visit to the Blues' club shop to buy some merchandise for his children. His two children are reportedly big fans of the Premier League outfit.
According to the aforementioned source, Gerard Pique is a big fan of tennis and hence was seen at Wimbledon. The 35-year-old defender regularly attends tennis tournaments and is a big fan of fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal.
A picture of the Barcelona defender holding a Chelsea bag can be seen below:
These pictures have inevitably raised speculations regarding Pique's time at the Nou Camp. It is worth mentioning that the FIFA World Cup-winning defender does have previous experience of playing in the Premier League.
The Spanish centre-back was a Manchester United player for four seasons during the initial stages of his career from 2004 to 2008. The defender, however, could only manage 23 appearances across competitions for the Red Devils during his tenure in England. He returned to Barcelona in the summer of 2008 to play under Pep Guardiola.
Gerard Pique's time at Barcelona could come to an abrupt end following Andreas Christensen's arrival from Chelsea
Gerard Pique has every chance of dropping down the pecking order under Xavi ahead of the 2022-23 season. According to a separate Marca report, Andreas Christensen has said goodbye to his Chelsea teammates and is expecting an announcement from Barcelona soon.
The 35-year-old was injury-ridden in the 2021-22 season and has only managed 27 league appearances for Barcelona. The Spanish defender currently has a contract at the Nou Camp until the summer of 2024. However, it is difficult to see him remain at the club for long due to his age and the possible arrival of younger defenders.
Chelsea, meanwhile, could do with an experienced centre-back like Gerard Pique. Thomas Tuchel's side have already seen Antonio Ruidger leave the club on a free transfer this summer, and are expected to lose Andreas Christensen to a Bosman transfer as well. The Blues therefore need defensive reinforcements in the summer transfer window ahead of the 2022-23 season.
