Sergio Ramos has urged Spain fans not to whistle Gerard Pique when La Roja welcome Italy to the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.
Pique is likely to be given a hostile reception, given the 2018 World Cup qualifier will be played at Real Madrid’s stadium, but Ramos insists jeering his Barcelona rival “doesn’t help anyone.”
“Italy? They’ve always been a great national team, strong and experienced at the back,” he said at a Press conference.
“What matters to us is that there’s a place at the World Cup up for grabs and, on top of that, at a great stadium like the Bernabeu.
“The fans will certainly be our best ally. They’ll help us and show that it’s a truly great setting for us.
“The whole world is talking about this game. We have to play in a unique setting, which is a tide of red. It’s one of the best matches you can watch in the world.
“Pique? He’s been an exemplary player for the national team. The whistles don’t help anyone.
“Last World Cup? I’m thinking about the day to day, I don’t think it’ll be my last World Cup, rather the opposite.
“As long as I’m enthusiastic and that I feel happy about playing football, I’ll continue to think about being here. I’m not thinking about anything like that.
“Asensio? He’s a very calm person, with his feet on the ground. He mustn’t carry the weight of the team on his shoulders. His time will come because he’ll define an era.
“As captain, I must take care of him and all the other young players. [The fame] won’t go to his head.
“Costa? You must have respect for everyone. Diego’s a great striker and he’ll come back stronger, now that he’s rested.”