Gerard Pique Slammed by Tennis Star Feliciano Lopez Amid Alvaro Arbeloa Spat

Tennis star Feliciano Lopez has taken a shot at Barcelona defender Gerard Pique in the wake of the ongoing spat between the Catalan centre-back and Real Madrid's Alvaro Arbeloa.

Lopez, a big Real fan, sent out a tweet that never mentioned Pique by name but was clearly meant for the defender, making two puns on the word “cone” and calling him “an attention-seeking buffoon,” per Marca.

Eugene Hoshiko/Associated Press

According to Marca, Pique recently called Arbeloa a cone and told reporters he was certainly no friend of his, hitting back at the former Liverpool man after he had suggested Pique wouldn't be out of place at a comedy show.

Their back-and-forth started when Pique took to Twitter during Real's Copa del Rey match against Cadiz, when it was revealed Denis Cheryshev, who scored the opening goal in that match, was ineligible to play. Pique's tweet was always going to start a controversy:

Sport Witness wasn't shocked the Madrid media didn't take it well:

Pique's relation with the Spanish media and fans in general has deteriorated in recent times, to the point where he is routinely whistled whenever he plays for the national team, per Goal's Joe Wright.

He maintains he doesn't mind the whistles and the fans are free to express their feelings toward him, but this latest incident surely won't help matters. And while his La Roja team-mates have so far backed him, an open feud with players from rivals Real Madrid could have a negative effect on the dressing room.

Spain manager Vicente Del Bosque has already expressed his disapproval, via Goal's David Manuca:

"

It's not great that there are piques between them. In the national team when there has been problems, we've always found a solution.

It's history between the two clubs, the coach has nothing to say. It's a problem with the clubs.When we are with the national team we take the necessary measures. I guess I'll have to talk to them. No comment of mine is going to fix anything and satisfy anyone.

"

It's highly unlikely Pique will apologise for the tweet that started the back-and-forth, which was just a jab at a rival club and has been somewhat blown out of proportion. But the ongoing media battle that has since developed has become childish and serves no purpose, other than sell newspapers.

Lopez's outburst on Twitter will only add fuel to the fire, and while he has every right to express his feelings as a fan of one of the clubs involved, it really is none of his business. Fans can only hope the controversy will have passed by the time La Roja take to the pitch for their next friendly in preparation for Euro 2016.

After the team's dismal showing during the 2014 World Cup, the last thing Spain needs is more distractions as they prepare to defend their European title in France next summer.

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