Although the pair are opponents and enemies at club level for much of the year, Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos insisted that there have never been any hard feelings between himself and Gerard Pique.
Both men are symbols of their respective clubs and as such, tensions can rise at times between them during the course of the season.
But when they team up for Spain duty, as they will this week, Ramos claimed that there is no animosity between the duo.
"Pique and I like to throw some stones at each other but now when I see him I will give him a big hug," Ramos said upon his arrival at Las Rozas for international duty.
"That is just the nature of the morbidity that exists in the relationship between Real Madrid and Barcelona."
Although the 30-year-old has now reached double figures in goals for the season, Ramos did struggle to explain why he has been so prolific in the opposing penalty area.
"I certainly didn't expect to score so many goals," he added. "My priority is always to defend first and foremost because I'm a defender."
