West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui managed Spain between 2016 and 2018 and La Roja relieved him of his duties just before the 2018 World Cup kicked off.
Gerard Piqué, who played under Lopetegui for Spain, recently accused the manager and Sergio Ramos for asking him to issue an apology for supporting the Catalonia referendum in 2017. He also said the manager has written what he has to say in a press conference.
El Partidazo de COPE’s Juanma Castaño spoke to the West Ham boss, who categorically denied Piqué’s latest clam.
AS now backs up Castaño’s claim of Lopetegui denying asking the former Barcelona star to publicly apologise to the country. They have also presented the Hammers manager’s version of the events, which could ‘soon be public’.
The Catalonia issue wasn’t a key topic during the national team meetings when Lopetegui was managing Spain.
According to the West Ham boss’ version, Piqué called at 2am in the morning to inform him about his decision to hold a press conference. Lopetegui congratulated the former defender after he carried out an hour-long presser.
AS end their report by stating: ‘Piqué’s words, false according to Lopetegui, have greatly angered the Basque coach, who doesn’t understand the point of now renewing an issue that currently has no weight and that is also based on a falsehood. The next step may be to clarify it publicly as part of his defence before the public.’
