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Piqué in presidential pre-campaign mode

Gerard Piqué has never been Barça team captain. Via a voting system employed by the squad at the Catalan club, the defender has never been selected as one of the four leaders by his fellow team-mates. Why is this? Irrespective, the player has his sights on being club president and only time will tell if he fulfils this ambition. But in these days of false truths, fake news or what ever you want to call it, the defender is astute in using his instinct in key moments and this was evident again on Tuesday night following the friendly against France in Paris. In his post match comments he moved on from praising the VAR system to having a dig at Real Madrid, its VIP area and alluded to the old myth that referees are biased towards Madrid. 

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PIQUEPACO PAREDESDIARIO AS

Real Madrid phobia

Lopetegui tried to play down the comments on what was an excellent night for the national team tainted only by Piqué's comments. His Real Madrid phobia, whether it's real or a show is unique. Over the years I've seen many wayward comments from the likes of Bernabéu, Gaspart, Núñez, Juanito, Stoichkov that have done little in cementing the relationship between both clubs but these are generally "one-offs" over an isolated matter or a refereeing decision. Piqué takes things to another level, and even had the impudence to talk about Raúl's recent conciliatory comment to promote his own agenda.

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Gerard Pique of Spain lJuan Manuel Serrano ArceGetty Images

Spokesman

Barça, meanwhile seem shell-shocked, still on a high after the comeback against PSG but smarting after detractors put their win down to the match official Aytekin and his penalty decisions. Piqué, despite not being club captain feels responsible to act at Barça spokesman and turns a question about the VAR system into a jibe against Real Madrid and it's VIP section with insinuation directed at former Attorney General Marta Silva. This latest Piqué outburst was somewhat dis-respectful towards the national team although I did like Madrid's retort but I also wonder how Deulofeu, Silva and the rest felt...