By Daily Sports on June 13, 2018

Rafael Nadal has fired a dig at Barcelona defender Gerard Pique by claiming he always likes to be in the centre of the Catalan independence debate.

Nadal gave his backing to the Spanish government, who are trying to unite the country, following his triumph at the French Open.

The world No 1 beat Dominic Thiem to win an unprecedented 11th career title at Roland Garros on Sunday.

But the debate over Catalonia's independence fails to go away with Pique often caught at the centre of the storm.

The defender is often booed when representing Spain because of how vocal he is about the situation.

And when Real Madrid fan Nadal was quizzed on his thoughts, he refused to get drawn in like Pique.

“I am very sincere in this. I have never said my political tendency nor do I have to do it.

“But let no one have any doubt that the only thing that matters to me is that we are all well and the country works in the best way possible, whoever governs.

“The fewer problems we have in our country, the better it will work.”

Meanwhile, Nadal also rubbished suggestions that he is the ‘Real Madrid’ of tennis because he cannot win when playing badly

“I disagree. When I was wrong I did not win,” Nadal added.

“In 2015 I had a bad year and I did not win. In Paris you do not win by playing badly.

“There is not much difference in tennis to allow you to play poorly and win. In the end to take you tournaments of this caliber you need to play well.

“Maybe there will be games that can be managed and won without being 100 per cent, but not like the final or the semi-final.” (express.co.uk)

•Photo shows Nadal

Source Daily Sports

Posted June 13, 2018

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