Atlético Madrid supporters have vandalised Joao Felix‘s plaque at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium venting their frustration for his transfer to Chelsea.
The Portuguese forward finalized his move to the Premier League club on Wednesday, signing a seven-year contract for an estimated €50 million. This transfer comes after a tumultuous five-year stint with Atlético, marked by inconsistent performances and a strained relationship with coach Diego Simeone.
The incident, involving litter and offensive messages scrawled on Félix’s plaque, highlights the passionate and sometimes volatile nature of Atlético’s fanbase. It also underscores the complex relationship between fans and players in the modern game, where loyalty and dedication to the club are held in high regard.
This isn’t the first time Atlético fans have targeted players’ plaques. The plaques honouring Thibaut Courtois and Antoine Griezmann were also defaced following their respective transfers to Real Madrid and Barcelona. In 2022, Courtois’ plaque was even removed entirely after controversial comments he made before a Champions League final.
In response to these incidents, Atlético renamed their hall of fame from the “Walk of Legends” to the “Walk of Centenary Players” and introduced a policy allowing for the removal of plaques if players make “denigrating or offensive statements.”
Félix’s move to Chelsea marks the end of a complex chapter in his Atlético career. He arrived from Benfica in 2019 for a club-record €126 million but struggled to consistently deliver under Simeone’s demanding style. Loan spells at Chelsea and Barcelona offered glimpses of his potential, but his desire for a permanent move away from Atlético ultimately led to his transfer to Chelsea.
The defacement of his plaque serves as a stark reminder of the passionate, yet sometimes unforgiving, nature of football fandom.
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