Gerard Pique to Continue Playing for Spain, but Will Always Consider Real Madrid his Arch-Rival

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique on Thursday said he will not quit playing for Spain despite being booed by fans in previous few matches but added he will always want arch-rivals Real Madrid to lose.

Pique came under the fire of the fans in Spain 2-0 triumph over Slovakia on Saturday and there were reports suggesting he would quit playing for the 2010 World Cup winners.

"Quitting the national team is the last thing I would do. That would be giving in to those who whistle for the wrong reasons," Pique was quoted as saying by goal.com.

Pique said he believes the jeers are because of the Barcelona-Madrid rivalry but insisted that he would still want "bad" things for Real even if that meant being booed for the rest of his career.

"I think they (Spain fans) whistle me because of the Barcelona-Madrid rivalry," he said.

"But I won't change. The rivalry is passionate and when one team is doing well, the other is doing badly. So let's hope things go as badly as possible for Real Madrid. And those who don't like it will have to put up with me until I retire!"

"I love Barcelona, but that doesn't stop me having a fantastic relationship with the Real Madrid players. Iker (Casillas) sent me flowers when my second child was born and I told him I hoped they would let in four (against Atletico) - and they went and let in four the next day. We still talk about that!"

"I watched the Madrid-Juventus game with a (Gianluigi) Buffon shirt on. I want Madrid to lose always. I love my club and nobody should expect me to change or ask for forgiveness."

"When I get booed by Madrid fans at the Bernabeu stadium, it is like music to my ears," added the 28-year-old.