Nice to see they’ve forgiven him
Spanish football fans are not famed for their forgiving nature. In fact, quite the opposite, they are some of the most demanding and unforgiving fans in the world. A Barcelona fan once famously threw a pig’s head in the direction of Luis Figo after he had left the club to sign for Real Madrid. This is the level of pettiness we’re talking about.
And that sort of behaviour is not confined to beef between Madrid and Barcelona. Other rivalries can throw up equally vitriolic abuse, as seen today by the behaviour of some Atlético Madrid fans, who defaced a plaque dedicated to Thibaut Courtois outside the Wanda Metropolitano.
Courtois spent several years at Atléti on loan from Chelsea, where he established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and even sang some very unsavoury words about Madridistas as a victory parade.
His move to Real Madrid last summer may have come as a relief to some Chelsea fans, who considered the Belgian to be past his best, but Atléti fans were not so pleased. They consider it the worst kind of betrayal, and have not shied away from making their feelings known.
Ahead of Saturday’s derby, a group of Atléti fans placed toy rats on top of his plaque, with a big, red X just for the avoidance of doubt that they do in fact despise him.
They’ve gone and bought toy rats and put them on Courtois’ 100 game plaque outside the Wanda. pic.twitter.com/o7nnXki5YU
— Robbie Dunne (@robbiejdunne) February 9, 2019
Slightly hypocritically, Atlético fans did welcome former Real Madrid striker Álvaro Morata to the club in January, though I wouldn’t be surprised if the tide started to turn after a barren run.
