Congratulations: Pique reveals how he mocks Real countrymen on Whatsapp
Barcelona star Gerard Pique revealed how he started a WhatsApp group containing Real Madrid players and is currently teasing them over their La Liga woes this season.
Pique has been a key part of the Barca team which is walking away with the league title in Spain this season, as they sit 11 points clear at the top with nine games to go.
But the most notable element of their lead at the summit is that they are 15 points ahead of bitter rivals and reigning champions Real Madrid.
Pique has rarely been far away from any feuds relating to the two clubs, and it seems this season he is taking the lead when it comes to mocking Barca's fiercest foes.
"I'm going to let you in on a little inside information. Everybody knows that footballers have text groups on WhatsApp. I have one just for my friends from home, and I have another just for my Barca teammates. But my favorite one might surprise you," Pique wrote in The Players' Tribune -- a media platform that publishes first-person stories directly from athletes and presents direct reflections, thoughts and experiences.
"Earlier this season, when we were already 8 or 9 points clear of Real Madrid in the league, I started a special group for some of the guys on the Spanish national team who play for Real Madrid and Barcelona," he continued.
"If you only read what the media says, you would think that we hate one another. But, in fact, we all get along really well, and we text back and forth about tactics and football philosophies and even the books we're reading. … No, come on, of course I’m joking! All we do in that group is talk s**t to one another about Barça and Real!
"It's the best. We're just like little kids. And the truth is, it's especially hilarious for me right now, because now we're up 15 points on Real in the league. So I'm getting very creative in my responses. Last season, when the Real guys were winning everything, they were feeling pretty good. They were talking shit constantly whenever I saw them at national team training.
"Man, every time they won a match last season, they were posting shirtless photos on Instagram from the locker room. Remember that?
"They were smiling and flexing their muscles like The Rock and saying #HalaMadrid and posting little trophy emojis. This season, though, it’s a different vibe. All their Instagram photos are looking very somber. '3 points today. We must keep working harder!'"
"So I’m texting them in the WhatsApp group, 'Come on guys, why so serious?!' Then I put a little crying emoji, and a laughing emoji. I even made a special name for the group. It's called: CONGRATULATIONS."