Madrid: Lionel Messi had blood in his mouth after a clash with Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos during Saturday’s Clasico, claims Gerard Pique.
Messi and Ramos were involved in a flashpoint in the first half at the Santiago Bernabeu. Ramos knocked the ball past Messi but then seemed to thrust his arm into the face of the Barcelona captain, who made his displeasure clear to the officials, although Madrid’s skipper was not punished.
Ramos denied that was the case in a post-match interview but the defender’s Spain teammate Pique was clear on who was to blame over the controversial incident.
“Leo (Messi) had blood in his mouth,” said Pique. “It was an aggression. Intensity does not have to be measured. I get along great with the Real Madrid players,” he added.
“But when you go out to the field you defend your colours and the rivalry is what you get. But once the game is over, the cordiality is mutual, the players respect us very much,” he asserted.
However, Barca head coach Ernesto Valverde said that Messi is fine. “Messi is fine. He has had a great game and made a great effort. He is an extraterrestrial in a way, because every time he takes the ball something extraordinary happens,” stated Valverde.