Alvaro Arbeloa Accuses Gerard Pique of Disrespecting His Family

Real Madrid full-back Alvaro Arbeloa has accused Barcelona's Gerard Pique of not having respect for his family after the Spanish centre-back said he was not a friend of the Los Blancos player.  

Back in December, Pique responded to a comment from Arbeloa by describing his compatriot as "maybe someone I know, but not my friend," per Goal.com. 

Arbeloa finally came out in response and explained his silence on the subject on Friday, while also making the claim about Pique's attitude toward his family, per La Galerna (via Sport):

"

I've not thought about it much. A lot of people told me: "You have to respond." I've digested it all. Things tend to be heated at first, but then you realise it's better not to enflame certain situations. I could explain to the world why I'm not a friend of Pique's, but maybe he wouldn't [appear] in a very good way.

It's also true that I know his family, and the respect I have for his family, he doesn't have for mine. Our families are what is important. We hear a lot of stupid things about us [as players] and shake them off more or less, but those who are close to us suffer for them. 

Thinking of that, I preferred not to answer, but if he had attacked Real Madrid again, I would've done so because I'll always defend this club. If he attacked me, it is different. It's my way of being. Not answering to him is better than saying some of things I could have said. 

"

Pique has a long history of aggravating Real players and fans and started his spat with Arbeloa after sending out a tweet which was seemingly revelling in the incident that led to the Madrid outfit being ejected from this season's Copa del Rey:

Per Goal.com's report, that in turn prompted Arbeloa to say he would "see him in a comedy club talking about Madrid," which then prompted Pique's antagonistic comment about the 33-year-old.

The pair have, in the past, been Spanish national team-mates, and they were both part of the triumphant La Roja sides at FIFA World Cup 2010 and UEFA Euro 2012—while Arbeloa also has a winners medal from Euro 2008.

But it seems abundantly clear that they do not like each other.

There seems little danger of them playing together again as Arbeloa is no longer really a consideration for the national squad.

His last appearances for Vicente del Bosque's side came back in early 2014—he was not in the squad for that year's World Cup—and he has hardly played at all for Real this season, making only three appearances as a substitute during the current La Liga campaign, per WhoScored.com. 

Arbeloa does not seem to be much in the plans of new manager Zinedine Zidane, per Spanish football writer Dermot Corrigan:

However, he is clearly still fiercely protective of the the club he has represented intermittently since his days in the youth setup, and any further response from Pique will likely not be taken lightly.