Xavi Hernandez has reacted to the controversial comments made by one of Barcelona's board members about Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior before the two Spanish giants square off this weekend.
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This past weekend, the Brazilian attacker was once again the victim of racial abuse when his Los Blancos side travelled to Ramon Sanches Pizjuan Stadium to face Sevilla.
A director of the Blaugrana, Miguel Camps, thought otherwise though as the executive refuted the 22-year-old's sentiments in a since-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter).
"It's not racism, he deserves a slap for being a clown and a joker, what do those unnecessary and pointless stepovers in the middle of the pitch mean?" Camps said, according to Evening Standard.
The incident has caused such controversy that Real president Florentino Perez has decided against attending ElClasico this coming weekend, but, in a bid to calm tensions ahead of the encounter on the weekend, Xavi has refused to add fuel to the fire.
"If he deleted it, there is no need to say anything," he told members of the media after his side's 2-1 victory over Shaktar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.
"He has deleted it. I don't like anything that generates tension.
"I don't like that the referees can be influenced (by it). I already said that I want the Clasico to have respect and mutual admiration. I won't be the one who generates any tension."
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The 43-year-old does not have the best of records at home against Los Merengues, having won only one ElClasico in the three that he has taken charge of.
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