Atletico Madrid fans have made their voices loud and clear amid reports the club could be making a move for former nemesis Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese striker, 36, is desperate to force his way out of Manchester United before the summer transfer window closes as he remains intent on playing in the Champions League this season. Ronaldo returned to United's Carrington training base for showdown talks with club chiefs on Tuesday, with agent Jorge Mendes in tow.
Sir Alex Ferguson was also there that day for a board meeting, but Ronaldo made it clear he wants out despite United's best efforts to convince him otherwise. Finding a destination is proving a little more tricky for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner however, with several clubs already said to have turned down the chance to sign him.
Paris Saint-Germain already have an abundance of big-name stars in their frontline and have snubbed the chance to add Ronaldo to their attack, while Bayern Munich have also revealed they decided against a bid after internal discussions.
One side still reportedly in the frame are Atletico, though a transfer to the Wanda Metropolitano is hardly a simple matter, given Ronaldo's links with their rivals Real Madrid. The 37-year-old won four Champions League titles in the white of Los Blancos, two of which were against Atletico.
Now fans of Atletico have expressed their opposition to the prospect of Ronaldo joining them, as they unfurled a banner during the 4-0 friendly win over Numancia on Wednesday. 'CR7 not welcome' it read in large black letters.
In any event, it seems unlikely that Ronaldo will make the switch to Atletico given their president Enrique Cerezo insisted it was "practically impossible" they could sign him.
Ronaldo is on huge wages at United and despite being open to a 30% pay cut, there are few clubs who could afford to take him onto their books, even in the short term. United's new boss Erik ten Hag is still keen to work with Ronaldo as his new era gets underway at Old Trafford and the striker has been welcomed back into the fold after missing the club's pre-season tour due to 'family reasons'.
Ronaldo was present at Carrington on Wednesday as United played National League side Wrexham in a behind closed doors friendly, in which summer signing Christian Eriksen scored a free-kick on his debut, whilst fellow new arrival Lisandro Martinez made his first appearance.
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The options available to Ronaldo outside of United have swiftly dwindled, with Bayern chief Oliver Kahn the latest to lift the lid on talks behind the scenes regarding the superstar. "We discussed this issue [of signing Ronaldo] because otherwise we would not be doing our job properly," Kahn told Germany's SportBild magazine.
"I personally consider Cristiano Ronaldo one of the greatest footballers ever on this planet," he added. "But we came to the conclusion that despite all the appreciation for Cristiano, he would not have fit in our philosophy in the current situation.".
