Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernández has this afternoon provided his response to the widely-discussed jibe aimed in his direction by Real Madrid’s in-house media channel.
Late on Monday, Xavi saw his name return to the forefront of the headlines.
This came upon Real Madrid TV issuing a deeply personal response to the former midfielder’s insinuation that Los Blancos once again benefitted from favourable officiating en route to their controversial comeback victory over Almería at the weekend.
Pointing towards the ongoing ‘Negreira case’, which has seen Barcelona formally charged for paying out over seven million euro over a period of 18 years to former referee José María Enríquez Negreira, they sniped:
“It is curious that Xavi is interested in the refereeing at the Bernabeu when FC Barcelona has been paying the number 2 of the referees for years.”
It was added, as per Goal:
“Xavi has played more than 600 matches with Barca, so these 600 matches are under suspicion.”
Speaking to the media ahead of his side’s trip to San Mamés to face Athletic Club in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, it therefore came as little surprise when the subject of Real Madrid TV’s dig was put to Xavi himself.
Barcelona’s headmaster, however, opted to take the high road.
“Real Madrid TV is talking about me?” he began. “I have always respected Madrid. I’ve never disrespected anyone. And if I have, I have asked for forgiveness. I am not one for war, I’m for peace. I respect everything, opinions, videos, memes… and I respect it, I take it with humor”
Conor Laird | GSFN
