Former Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain has announced he will retire at the end of the 2022 MLS season.

“Three or four months ago I told the club, it wasn’t from one day to the next,” Higuain said during a press conference.

“I had been working on it for years. When I came here, I came for the pleasure of enjoying football, of my life, of having Fede close, my brother.

“It was another stage in my career, but I can tell you that it was one of the best moments of my career, and this club, my teammates and the coaching staff gave it to me, who gave me back the desire to play football.”

He continued: “I can now retire as I always dreamed, scoring goals and having fun playing the game.”

Higuain made 264 appearances for Real Madrid during his time at the club, scoring 121 goals and providing 56 assists.