Real Madrid midfielder Marco Asensio was filmed aiming a playful jibe at his Spain teammate De Gea before Wednesday's friendly against Manchester United in the International Champions Cup. The 22-year-old was caught on camera approaching his Spanish counterpart in the tunnel and shouting at him: "Karius! Karius! Karius!"
As if Marco Asensio actually trolls his international team-mate David De Gea for his World Cup mistakes by calling him "Karius" 😂
— 888sport (@888sport) 2 августа 2018 г.
Too harsh?pic.twitter.com/ubQ01q2itn
Asensio's taunt came several weeks after De Gea missed all four of Russia's penalties in the shoot-out, with his team being forced to exit the tournament early on, following the best of 16 round.
The pair apparently showed no hard feelings as they hug it out at the end.
Real Madrid beat Karius's side Liverpool 3-1 in this year's Champions League final, which saw the German goalkeeper make two costly mistakes. Subsequently he came under fire from disappointed fans.
Asensio's joke sparked an outrage on Twitter, with many fans calling it "not funny at all" and "disrespectful".
Couldn't be more disrespectful.
— Jacob O'Brien (@JacobOBrien20) 2 августа 2018 г.
Me to Asensio and whoever thinks this is funny. pic.twitter.com/34slCiIV5W
— Valhalla I'm Coming (@Angor04) 1 августа 2018 г.
I hope Madrid get beat in the Champions league final and Asensio scores an own goal in the 94th minute to lose the game tbh
— Bazzingaa (@Bazzingaa___) 2 августа 2018 г.
That’s not funny
— FF (@FFSZN_) 1 августа 2018 г.
Very unprofessional behaviour from asensio, he should apologize. What did he do for spain? Another sore loser, just acting big as if he is some major star in madrid.
— Nithin Unni (@NIT222) 2 августа 2018 г.
That wasn’t funny at all
— ) (@dhhsjsjsjsjii) 1 августа 2018 г.
It’s not funny though. How would karius feel watching that. Also asensio was a 1 season wonder. After the season he had and World Cup that’s like de gea calling him Harvey price
— Marc (@marcbarlow10_21) 2 августа 2018 г.
That's Unprofessional And Childish…😏😏😏
— Morgy🇿🇲🇿🇲🙄🤙✌🏻🔴💯🤣 (@One_Morgy) 1 августа 2018 г.
Some, however, tried to defend the Spanish player.
Just a bit of banter between them.
— Garry, Barry & Terry (@MartynVanders) 2 августа 2018 г.
Many are making a big deal out of this joke between friends. Isco still mocks Ramos everytime he gets his hands on a trophy. Vazquez mocked Ramos' discipline saying he wouldn't last a game if Vazquez was a ref. I guess people look out 4 any reason to play Real's victims.
— Dre (@DBlanco02) 2 августа 2018 г.
More than a month after the final, Brazil international Alisson joined Liverpool for a world record fee for a keeper to replace Karius as No 1.
