Tottenham Hotspur have been left "astonished" by claims from Marca, Spain's biggest-selling newspaper, that the north London club are "hated" because of their Jewish origins.
The Madrid-based sports daily publication printed the claim within an article previewing Spurs' arrival for their Champions League clash with Los Blancos on Tuesday evening.
The piece, bylined to the organisation's senior reporter Enrique Ortega, claimed that rival fans "hated' the Lilywhites as a result of their formation 135 years ago.
"Their Jewish origin has made them into a club disliked by rival fans, but in their 135 years of existence they have always had style and great players", read Monday's edition of Marca, as cited by ESPN.