Sergio Ramos has begged fans in Alicante to forget politics and support the national team in their World Cup qualifiers.
Gerard Pique has found himself at the centre of intense controversy due to his comments on Sunday about the right of Catalans to vote in an independence referendum that had been declared illegal by the Spanish government, and he was again booed by fans at training in Alicante.
“We cannot ask the fans of anything because there is freedom of expression,” Ramos said in a news conference. “But we have to think about the team. We ask for there to be a good atmosphere and for the fans to enjoy the game.
“Sport is not politics and we have to separate them. As captain of Spain and of Real Madrid, I have the duty to unite the group. It hasn’t been an easy week for anyone. I knew it was going to be a complicated week.”
Ramos and Pique, who play for rival clubs Madrid and Barca, have been at loggerheads in the past but are now on good terms.
“I have a very good relationship with Gerard even though we think differently,” Ramos said. “We have no problem between us.”
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