The Gerard Pique-Alvaro Arbeloa rivalry took it a bit too far this season, as both players started to publicly get into heated arguments on social media and through the press. This escalated quickly into a terrain where the Barcelona defender was jeered everywhere he went with Spain or the Catalan club, people were on Arbeloa's side all the time. This is mainly because of Gerard Pique's style of criticism that has never really been politically correct for anyone, several times he has dissed Real Madrid and people from Spain.
People inside the club already know his style and cope with him, but the ones who are always outside the club can't seem to understand his humor and his way to address the rival or some fans. Pique is not a perfect man, but his intentions have never really been the worst of the worst. For many, his constant arguments with Arbeloa reached a point of no return. But after Alvaro's retirement homage this Sunday, Pique wanted to end the debate and pay his respects for the player, while recognizing that they didn't take the issue too well or in a responsible manner.
After the victory in the Catalan derby, Pique said this about Alvaro: "I wish him the best wherever he goes next. If they have given him a send-off like that, it is because he has deserved it. Sometimes the tone has been a bit too much and we shouldn't have done it. But he's had a great career with some big trophies, including the World Cup, and for wherever he goes I wish him well."
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