Former Real Madrid left back Roberto Carlos says the club would have been labelled disrespectful had they scored a penalty similar to the one Barcelona did at the weekend.
Leading 3-1 at home to Celta Vigo the hosts were awarded a spot kick. Leo Messi stepped up to take it but rather than tucking it away himself he passed the ball for Luis Suarez to run onto and score.
While many have said the goal was a brilliant homage to Johann Cryuff and Jesper Olsen’s effort for Ajax in 1982, some have said the penalty was disrespectful and belittled Celta Vigo and La Liga.
Speaking about the penalty, Roberto Carlos told Marca: “If we’d taken Messi’s penalty at the Bernabeu it would have been portrayed as disrespectful.”
The Brazilian also had his say on the venue of the Copa del Rey final and agreed that it should not take place at the Santiago Bernabeu. Barcelona had wanted the showpiece event to take place there but in the end their plans were scuppered because Bruce Springsteen will perform concerts over the same weekend in May.
Carlos stated: “I wouldn’t let them use the Bernabeu for the Spanish Cup final. There are plenty of stadiums in Spain which could host the final. Why the Bernabeu? In 2004 Barcelona refused to let us use their ground for our final against Zaragoza.”
