Cristiano Ronaldo: Atletico Madrid Fans Unfurl 'CR7 Not Welcome' Banner

Atletico Madrid supporters unveiled a banner saying that Cristiano Ronaldo is "not welcome" at their club after it was reported the team was interested in signing the Portuguese striker.

Spanish newspaper AS reported earlier this month that Atletico wanted to sign Ronaldo after he told his current club, Manchester United, that he wanted to leave.

Atletico president told reporters Tuesday that a move for Ronaldo was "practically impossible," but that didn't stop some supporters from protesting the proposed move during a match on Wednesday.

As Diego Simeone's side beat third-tier Numancia 4-0 in a friendly at the Estadio Municipal de El Burgo de Osma, a group of Atleti fans unfurled a large banner that read "CR7 NOT WELCOME."

CR7 is Ronaldo's trademark abbreviation.

In a statement made on Wednesday, an Atleti fan group also urged their club not to sign the United forward.

Ronaldo played for Atletico's biggest rival, Real Madrid, for nine years between 2009 and 2018, during which time he scored 22 goals against Atleti, including a goal in the 2014 Champions League final.

"In light of the possibility of signing Cristiano Ronaldo, if it is more than a simple rumor without any basis, we express our absolute rejection of his hypothetical joining of our club," Atletico's International Union of Fan Clubs (Union Internacional de Peñas Atletico de Madrid) said.

"The aforementioned player represents the antithesis of the values that constitute the hallmarks of our Atleti, such as the effort, generosity, modesty and humility of those who want to defend our values."

Ronaldo informed United of his desire to leave the club last month and has missed all of the club's preseason tour of Thailand and Australia.

He returned to United on Tuesday with his agent Jorge Mendes to hold talks about his future, with the club and its new manager, Erik ten Hag, keen to see him remain.

But, according to the Daily Mail, the talks failed to change the 37-year-old's mind about wishing to leave, and Mendes has now informed United that Ronaldo wants to be relinquished from his contract.

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