It's not a derogatory term.
Didn't Suarez use the word 'Negro' to Patrice Evra and get done for racism whilst playing for us?
I believe it was "negrito"
Quoted from Wiki: "(in Latin American counties)...the diminutive negrito can be used, as a term of endearment meaning pal, buddy or friend. Negrito has come to be used to refer to a person of any ethnicity or color, and also can have a sentimental or romantic connotation similar to sweetheart, or dear in English..."