Gerard Pique has admitted that there is a secret WhatsApp group consisting of rival Barcelona and Real Madrid players, and the entire chat consists of digs between the two teams.

The Spaniard clarifies that the chat was intended to help his Spanish international teammates stay in touch, however it can get heated when one team performs poorly or has a disappointing result.

"I'm going to let you in on a little inside information. Everybody knows that footballers have text groups on WhatsApp," Pique told The Players' Tribune.

"I have one just for my friends from home, and I have another just for my Barca teammates. But my favourite one might surprise you. Earlier this season, when we were already eight or nine points clear of Real Madrid in the league, I started a special group for some of the guys on the Spanish national team who play for Real Madrid and Barcelona.

"All we do in that group is talk shit to one another about Barca and Real. It's the best. We're just like little kids. And the truth is, it's especially hilarious for me right now, because now we're up 15 points on Real in the league, so I'm getting very creative in my responses. Last season, when the Real guys were winning everything, they were feeling pretty good. They were talking shit constantly whenever I saw them at national team training.

"Man, every time they won a match last season, they were posting shirtless photos on Instagram from the locker room. Remember that? They were smiling and flexing their muscles like The Rock and saying #HalaMadrid and posting little trophy emojis. This season, though, it's a different vibe. All their Instagram photos are looking very somber. 'Three points today. We must keep working harder!' So I'm texting them in the WhatsApp group, 'Come on guys, why so serious?!' Then I put a little crying emoji, and a laughing emoji. I even made a special name for the group. It's called: CONGRATULATIONS."

Barcelona are top of La Liga on 75 points, while rivals Madrid sit in third with a tally of 60 points.