Gerard Pique Booed at Spain's Hotel in Alicante, Does Not Regret Roldan Comment

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has become an icon for Catalonia over the past few months, after goading Real Madrid during his side's treble-winning celebrations last season.

Pique has since been booed and whistled while representing the national side but does not regret his actions, he told Spanish radio programme Espacio Reservado (via AS English)

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

"I still think it was something funny and entertaining which will last forever," he said. "As long as there is respect and you are not insulting anyone, there’s nothing bad about having a little dig at your rivals."

He also claims not to be bothered by the jeering of his own supporters and insists it will not put him off his duty for Spain.

"The whistles are just something circumstantial which I have to go through; nobody likes that kind of thing," he said. "But leaving the national team now would make it look like those who whistle and jeer are right, and they don’t deserve that satisfaction."

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VIDEO: Pique getting what he deserves after getting out of the bus. pic.twitter.com/yH9btyrk9H

— SocialRMadrid (@SocialRMadrid) November 12, 2015"

He was booed on his way into the team hotel in Alicante ahead of their friendly against England on Friday.

His national coach, Vicente del Bosque, spoke out about the whistling during the pre-match press conference, reports AS English.

"This is like a wave which is now impossible to stop; we’ve reached the point where it would [be] unusual if Gerard Pique wasn’t whistled," he said. "I think the best response is to not let it worry us or even talk any more about it."