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Sergio Ramos: Barcelona star Gerard Pique is booed by Spain fans because he taunted Real Madrid
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Published 09/09/2015 at 11:34 GMT+1
Sergio Ramos has suggested Gerard Pique’s behaviour in celebrating Barcelona’s treble success is the reason he is being booed by the Spain fans.
Gerard Piqué, con la selección española
Image credit: AFP
Pique was recorded mocking Real Madrid as he celebrated with his team and while Ramos acknowledged that he’s not innocent in that regard, the way Pique brought Los Blancos into the affair may be why he’s the target of whistles.
“We all make mistakes, me first of all. Everyone should take responsibility for their mistakes,” Marca quotes the centre-back as saying after the win over Macedonia.
“But perhaps the rivalry between Madrid and Barcelona wasn’t helped by Pique’s behaviour.
“I won’t go into what everyone does when they win. When I win I don’t think of anyone who doesn’t mean something to me.”
Ramos continued, however, by defending Pique from criticism - particularly that which he received when he was seen out late after the Saturday win over Slovakia.
“Whether or not we agree with his behaviour we have to think about the national team and not create controversy that may impair the group,” he insisted.
“He didn’t break any code by going out for a drink.”
PIQUE 'CONSIDERED QUITTING AFTER THE WORLD CUP' AMID REAL/BARCA SQUAD SPLIT CLAIMS
Pique reportedly wanted to retire from international football after the World Cup but Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque convinced him to stay on.
Spain went to Brazil 2014 as world champions but were dumped out at the group stage and Sport reports Pique was ready to quit La Roja as a result.
The Barcelona player allegedly felt scapegoated by the press and the trainer having been dropped for the second game, against Chile, following the opening 5-1 reverse to the Netherlands.
Xavi Hernandez was also left out of the XI to play the South Americans but Iker Casillas, Ramos and Xabi Alonso kept their places, with a pro-Real Madrid bias suggested.
Pique and Cesc Fabregas declined to fly home with the rest of the squad, preferring instead to go to the United States, another symptom of the split in the camp, Sport claims.
The centre-back was also left out of the first post-World Cup squads, officially because he wasn't fit, but Sport suggests the real reason was that Pique's anger over the World Cup hadn't dissipated.
He was though talked into continuing with Spain by Del Bosque, rather than following the lead of the older Xavi and Alonso and retiring.
Del Bosque is said to have a commitment from Pique to stay with Spain until at least Euro 2016, expected to be Del Bosque's final tournament in charge.
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