Carles Puyol criticised for saying "I am Spanish"
The Barcelona legend said: "I am Carles Puyol, I am Spanish", in an advert for a Chinese TV channel, sparking a barrage of abusive tweets in Catalan.</br><a title="Leganés vs Barcelona live online: LaLiga 2017-18 week 12" href="https://en.as.com/en/2017/11/18/football/1511002262_978427.html">Leganés vs Barcelona</a>
"I am the ex-captain of FC Barcelona. I've won six leagues, three European Cups, a World Cup, and a European Championship. I am Carles Puyol, and I am Spanish." That is how Puyol introduces himself in a new La Liga advert for a Chinese TV channel.
Despite the fact the advert is airing over a thousand miles away in the Far East, it has received a lot of attention back in the Barça legend's native Spain, and especially in Catalonia.
Related stories
Thousand's of messages have been sent to Puyol - who is Catalan - through his official Twitter account, with many of them fiercely critical of his self-description of 'Spanish' in the advert.
The insults aimed at Puyol - who played 100 games for the Spanish national side between 2000 and 2013 - range from "Traitor", "Deserter" and "Sell-out".
Vergonyos @Carles5puyol pensava que t'estimava més el teu poble que no pas els diners. https://t.co/87EmRIrcIJ
— Món mundial de CAT (@MonMundialCat) July 18, 2016
La majoria dels mortals potser canviaria de parella però mai d'equip de futbol, de pàtria ni de bandera; i no és... https://t.co/jx8dgXxIF0
— Fantassin (@Fantassin) July 18, 2016
Al amic @Carles5puyol fot-li un feix de lliures esterlines davant, i et dirà que es anglès. https://t.co/9297cq9b3m
— 𝔖𝔬𝔵𝔦𝔬𝔟 𝔟𝔦𝔤 𝔬𝔫𝔢 ✊🌱 (@SoXiOB) July 18, 2016