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Barcelona : The reckless kid who who can tackle has matured

By Chiranjib Ghosh

BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 09: Gerard Pique of Barcelona celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal during the La Liga match between Barcelona and Espanyol at Camp Nou on September 9, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 09: Gerard Pique of Barcelona celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal during the La Liga match between Barcelona and Espanyol at Camp Nou on September 9, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images) /
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Gerard Piqué’s journey has been brilliant, and he is culminating into a rock at the back for Barcelona

ROME – MAY 26: Carles Puyol of Barcelona and Gerard Pique of Barcelona attend the Barcelona training session prior to UEFA Champions League Final versus Manchester United at the Stadio Olimpico on May 26, 2009 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
ROME – MAY 26: Carles Puyol of Barcelona and Gerard Pique of Barcelona attend the Barcelona training session prior to UEFA Champions League Final versus Manchester United at the Stadio Olimpico on May 26, 2009 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /

Gerard Piqué started off as a La Masia player but he moved to the Manchester United academy to complete his graduation. But Alex Ferguson never gave him an opportunity to prove himself in the Premier League.

But he returned to his boyhood club after he impressed Pep Guardiola in a spell with Real Zaragoza in the La Liga. Then, Guardiola paired him up with Carles Puyol and all hell broke loose. Piqué had the license to go forward while Puyol sat back and made life hell for the opposition forwards.

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The veteran Spaniard would stay with the attacker until reinforcements arrived and tackled the attacker. Piqué, too earned a reputation for being a fearsome tackler and he took some load off Sergio Busquets.

But this tactic failed miserably after Puyol retired. Javier Mascherano was never equivalent to Puyol, regardless of his success. Mascherano failed to stop counter-attacks if Piqué went forward.

The same happened with Jérémy Mathieu and Thomas Vermaelen. But when Barcelona signed Samuel Umtiti from Olympique Lyonnais, Gerard Piqué was forced to reinvent himself. He had met his match in the Frenchman.

Luis Enrique gave the license to Umtiti and not Piqué. Until then, the Spaniard has shown what he is capable of. His ability to stay back and go forward when requisite redefines the role of a central defender.

Next: Julian Draxler hopes to leave Paris Saint-Germain for the Camp Nou in January

The reckless academy product has finally matured.