Gets benched after playing good games Start him based on your claims of meritocracy – Barcelona fans slam weird decision to drop 25-year-old from line-up for Almeria game Notifications New User posted their first comment this is comment text Approve Reject & ban Delete Logout

Gets benched after playing good games Start him based on your claims of meritocracy – Barcelona fans slam weird decision to drop 25-year-old from line-up for Almeria game

Barcelona fans not happy to see attacker dropped from starting XI. fans were surprised to see not named in the starting XI for their team's clash against Almeria on Saturday, 5 November. The clash at Camp Nou will mark the last time Gerard Pique will don the Blaugrana colors. Hence, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the 35-year-old is named in the starting XI for the game. However, Raphinha's exclusion didn't sit well with the fans as Xavi Hernandez decided to put Ferran Torres and Ousmane Dembele in attack along with Robert Lewandowski. The former Leeds United winger has been in decent form in recent games. Hence, fans hoped that Xavi would give him the chance to carry on his momentum and realize his full potential for the club. However, that certainly hasn't been the case as the Brazilian could only make the bench against Almeria. Here are some of the best reactions across Twitter after Xavi named the Barcelona starting XI for the Almeria clash: pique start, which is nice. hope we get a good lead, sub lewy off and put pique at striker lmao. no risks taken for eric and kounde. ofc busi starts… and again raphinha gets benched after playing good games back to back. weird BARÇA XI
BARÇA XI pique start, which is nice. hope we get a good lead, sub lewy off and put pique at striker lmao. no risks taken for eric and kounde. ofc busi starts… and again raphinha gets benched after playing good games back to back. weird You bench Raphinha after a good performance and the audacity to say barca board are surprised at Raphinha that he doesn’t display the same performance as training, start him based on your claims of meritocracy You bench Raphinha after a good performance and the audacity to say barca board are surprised at Raphinha that he doesn’t display the same performance as training, start him based on your claims of meritocracy BARÇA XI
BARÇA XI Whereeee is raphinha wtfff!!!! Whereeee is raphinha wtfff!!!! Raphinha on bench again Raphinha on bench again RAPHINHA ????? RAPHINHA ????? Where is Raphinha Where is Raphinha raphinha BARÇA XI
BARÇA XI raphinha Raphinha has played 16 games for the Catalonian giants since his summer arrival from Leeds United. He has scored one goal and provided four assists for the club. He put on an excellent display during the team's 4-2 away win against Viktoria Plzen on Tuesday, 1 November. Hence, the fans' frustrations are understandable.

Xavi Hernandez said it was difficult for him to not give Gerard Pique regular playing time during the final stages of his Barcelona career

Barcelona star Gerard Pique. Gerard Pique recently announced that he will retire from football and Barcelona's clash against Almeria on Saturday (5 November) will be the last game of his career. Xavi recently said that it was difficult for him to have a conversation with the defender and tell him that he won't be having a guaranteed starting role for the team. Xavi said (via ): “I was honest with him at all times since I had a conversation with him in the summer. It was one of the most difficult days of my career. Circumstances have led him to put an end to it. I understand the decision, I also went through that situation, he feels less important. The normal thing was to take a step to the side. "He honors him a lot because he has a contract and could have continued. Surely I have an important responsibility, but I have looked at what was best for the team and for the institution. I believed that someone else had to play instead of Gerard. It's been hard, but I have to make decisions. I don't know if I've been fair, but I've been honest." Paul Merson predicts the result of Newcastle vs Chelsea and other EPL GW 16 fixtures! Poll : 0 votes Quick Links More from Sportskeeda Thank You! Show More Comments No thanks Delete Cancel Update Reply ❮ ❯ No thanks Delete Cancel Update Reply ❮ ❯ Be the first one to comment on this story More from Sportskeeda Fetching more content... 1 Logout No Results Found