Andoni Zubizarreta thinks a tribute to Lionel Messi at Real Madrid's Bernabeu stadium in the upcoming clasico would be "strange" should the Barcelona star break the Liga scoring record against their fierce rivals.
Barca face Eibar next Saturday before travelling to Champions League holders Real on Oct. 25 with Messi just two strikes off Telmo Zarra's La Liga record of 251 goals.
National Professional Football League (LFP) president Javier Tebas says that the LFP could potentially pause the clasico to mark the the 27-year-old's achievement were he to break the record during the game, but Barca sporting director Zubizarreta told the programme 'Hat trick Barca' on Esport3 that such a presentation would be out of place in the sport.
"That's something more common in American sports or with basketball," he said. "It would seem strange in football, but it is recognition he deserves. I'll settle for a goal against Eibar and Madrid and that we win. We have seen the Bernabeu applaud Barca players before and vice-versa."
Messi missed his second penalty in as many weeks as he saw his spot kick saved in Argentina's 2-0 friendly defeat to Brazil on Saturday, but Zubizarreta has backed the forward to thrive after the setback.
"I don't think it affects him," he continued. "He is very secure; last year at the Bernabeu he scored two. He would've preferred to score because it would have helped the team. I know that pitch from preseason and it is not very good. Those things spur him on to do better later."
The upcoming clasico could also see Luis Suarez's first full appearance for Barcelona as his four-month FIFA ban ends a day before the tie, though Barca's sporting director was coy over whether the former Liverpool striker would feature against Real.
"I hope that Luis Enrique will have everyone available for the trip to the Bernabeu," he added. "We have started the season well without him [Suarez] so far. Knowing the player, he will be at the Bernabeu before we ask him.
"The manager will choose those that he thinks will go there and win. I recalled that with Suarez's previous suspensions he always returned by playing against Manchester United."