Atletico Madrid fans vandalised João Félix's Hall of Fame plaque outside their Metropolitano stadium on Wednesday after the striker completed his move to Chelsea.
The Portugal international joined the Premier League club on a seven-year contract for a fee of around €50 million (US$55.7 million) after an inconsistent five-year spell in Madrid.
Atlético players who have played more than 100 games for the club receive a plaque on the “Paseo de los Jugadores Centenarios” (Centennial Players' Walk) located outside the stadium on the outskirts of Madrid.
On Wednesday, Felix's plaque was covered with trash and an offensive message was written on it in chalk.
The player joined Atlético from Benfica in a club-record €126 million transfer in July 2019.
He struggled to perform consistently and adapt to manager Diego Simeone's style of football, and left on loan to Chelsea in January 2023, before joining Barcelona on loan for the 2023-24 season in a move he described as a “dream come true”.
Felix's plaque is not the first to fall into the crosshairs of disgruntled Atlético fans.
The plaque honouring Thibaut Courtois, who played for Atletico on loan between 2011 and 2014, was attacked after he joined rivals Real Madrid in 2018, with fans leaving toy rats at the commemoration.
Antoine Griezmann's plaque was desecrated in 2019 when he signed for Barcelona before the French international returned to Atletico in 2021.
In May 2022, Courtois' plaque was removed overnight by unknown persons, after fans took offence to comments he made ahead of Real Madrid's Champions League final, saying he was now “on the right side of history”.
Courtois played for Atlético in their Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid in 2014.
Months after that incident, Atlético announced that the hall of fame, previously known as the “Walk of Legends”, would be renamed the “Walk of Centenary Players” at the request of fans.
The club also said a player's badge could be revoked if he made “derogatory or offensive statements against Atlético de Madrid or its fans.”
