Furious Atletico fans deface Griezmann plaque at Wanda Metropolitano after he signs for Barcelona
FURIOUS Atletico Madrid fans have defaced Antoine Griezmann's plaque at their new stadium after he quit the club to join Barcelona.
Griezmann walked out on Atleti to sing for La Liga rivals Barca after the champions paid up the £108million release clause in his contract.
That has left fans of his former club angry at the way he has walked out on them just a year after signing a new long-term contract to stay in Madrid.
And they made their feelings known by vandalising the plaque that was erected in tribute to France ace Griezmann at the Wanda Metropolitano ground.
A group daubed mud and dirt all over the stone bearing the 28-year-old's name in an attempt to cover up the words.
They then plastered a series of Atleti stickers over it, making it clear he was no longer considered a club legend in their eyes.
LEGAL ACTION
Atleti are still smarting at the way the World Cup winner made his move to Barcelona having broken the bank to give him a new contract this time last year.
And they are ready to take action in an attempt to force Barca to cough up a further £72m for the midfielder.
His original release clause was set at £180m, but that figure dropped to £108m at the start of July.
Barcelona waited for that date before pushing through with the transfer, but Atletico claim Griezmann had made it clear well before then that he was off to the Nou Camp.
They believe that means the actual fee the Spanish giants should pay for their star man is £180m - and are said to be prepared to go to court to fight their corner.
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The defacing of the plaque by the fans is not the first time they have made such a statement.
The supporters did the same when former keeper Thibaut Courtois joined Real Madrid form Chelsea last summer.
And they also made a similar statement by defacing the plaque dedicated to legendary Mexican striker Hugo Sanchez, who caused anger when he left to join arch rivals Real in 1985.
