Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid have been age-long rivals, a rivalry that stretches beyond the football pitch into the political and social landscape of the city.
While Atletico Madrid, or the Rojiblancos, are often associated with the working class of Madrid, Real Madrid have long been linked to the city’s ruling class. Hence the rivalry has always been fierce, a battle between the grey and the white.
The derby goes back decades and was once considered even bigger than El Clasico. Matches between the two sides have always been fiercely contested, with no recent encounter being one-sided.
Atletico Madrid are constantly looking for ways to upset their cross-town rivals, and they are apparently still pursuing an appeal regarding the disallowance of Julian Alvarez’s double-touch penalty in the Champions League last season that eventually led to their elimination.
Atletico Madrid tried to hijack two of Real Madrid's summer signings
According to ESPN, the Rojiblancos attempted to hijack two of Real Madrid’s latest acquisitions: Alvaro Carreras and Franco Mastantuono.
The report claims Atletico were keen to sign both players but withdrew because they wanted to pay the transfer fees in instalments, an approach that was flatly rejected by Benfica and River Plate.
Real Madrid then stepped in, secured both players on considerable fee structures, and they have already become important figures under Xabi Alonso.
It is doubtful whether either player would have joined Atletico even if the full fee had been offered upfront.
Mastantuono had his eyes firmly set on Real Madrid, to the point where he dismissed a near move to Paris Saint Germain as soon as Los Blancos entered the picture.
Carreras, meanwhile, is a former La Fabrica player. A move across the city to Atletico would have been awkward, and like Mastantuono, his priority was always a return to Real Madrid.