Angry Atletico Madrid fans remove Courtois' 'legend' plaque from stadium

Situated along Atletico's 'walk of legends' outside the stadium, the plaques are dedicated to every player who has made more than 100 appearances for the club.

Courtois, 30, produced a masterclass in Real Madrid's 1-0 Champions League final win over Liverpool by producing a series of saves to keep the Premier League side at bay on Saturday night.

The Belgium international spent three seasons on loan at Atletico between 2011 and 2014, winning La Liga and losing the 2014 Champions League final to Real, whom he joined from Chelsea in 2018.

Referencing the 2014 defeat ahead of the 2022 final, he said: "

"If you face Real Madrid, you know that when they play the finals they win them. Now I'm on the good side of history.

"Eight years ago I played my first Champions League final, I didn't win it and I hope to do it [on Saturday]. It's the same excitement for everyone: to win and add to the history of Real Madrid."

The comments certainly did not go down well with the Atletico Madrid fans, and the mayor of Madrid Jose Luis Martinez Almeida, even brought up the remarks during Los Blancos' trophy parade on Sunday afternoon.

"Those of us who cried with you in Lisbon [the venue for the 2014 final] were on the right side too," he said.

It remains to be seen who removed the plaque, but Atletico president Enrique Cerezo may have inadvertently have encouraged.

"Take a pick and shovel and go and remove it," he told reporters on Monday, presumably not expecting it to happen.

An unpopular figure amongst Atletico fans, Courtois was targeted by supporters in 2019 where toy rats were thrown at him during the Madrid derby. Fans even graffitied his plaque at the time.

In a post-match interview after Real's win over Liverpool, Courtois it was about time some respect was due his way.

It could most likely relate to the fact a football magazine left him out of a list of the world's 10 best goalkeepers earlier this year.