Atlético Madrid snub Courtois from tribute, controversy grows | OneFootball

Atlético de Madrid excluded Thibaut Courtois from the renewal of their Walk of Legends, reigniting the historic tension between the Belgian goalkeeper and the red-and-white fans. The decision stemmed from a change in the criteria for selecting the club's icons, which now prioritize identity and connection with the members over sporting achievements.

The Belgian defended Atlético's goal in 154 matches and was part of one of the club's most successful periods, but his transfer to Real Madrid in 2018 marked a definitive break with the stands. Since then, every visit to the Metropolitano has been met with fan rejection.

The new voting system, involving more than 150,000 members, made the change in institutional focus clear. Besides Courtois, other figures like Hugo Sánchez were also excluded, indicating that the emotional component has become key in building the club's historical narrative.

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