In the tunnel it may have been all laughs with Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos, but Gerard Pique didn't hesitate in slamming Real Madrid as an institution and what the club stand for after Spain's 2-0 friendly win over France.
Video assistant refereeing was the main talking point it seemed after it was used on two occasions in a way that was then reflected in the finalscore, but Pique's inflammatory comments stole the thunder.
"I don't like the values Real Madrid transmit, although there are players there I really appreciate with and am friends with," Pique said. "I don't doubt Raul's madridismo and I'd never work at Real Madrid.
"What I don't like about Real Madrid is how those in the box seats pull the strings.
"I don't like what they transmit, as a club, what do you want me to tell you," he reiterated. "Almost all of them are friends and I can play cards with them but we know how this works."
Pique also picked up on Ramos and Marcelo's comments after Barcelona's 'historic' comeback, with the insinuation that it was only historic due to the refereeing on display.
"For me, this is a show, I don't get upset at what they [Marcelo and Ramos] said, and I hope they don't get upset when I do the same," he continued. "I like the type of wordplay they used."
As for the video assistant refereeing, again Pique joked that it was because he was wearing white that the calls went his and Spain's way, a comment he then repeated in the dressing room.
"In the end, it all comes down to me wearing white," he said amidst laughter. "It worked really well and I think it'd be a good idea to have VAR in LaLiga.
"We've been asking for it for some time."
