Jonathan David has faced criticism from Atletico fans before making his first appearance for the Madrid club, with Antoine Griezmann stepping in to support the Canadian forward on social media.
The 26-year-old striker attracted attention from supporters who questioned his physical condition after images and videos of him circulated online. Some comments described David as overweight, while others focused negatively on his appearance.
The criticism came before David had played a single match for Atletico. He has only recently begun training with Diego Simeone’s squad, meaning supporters’ reactions came before he had the opportunity to make his contribution on the pitch.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Griezmann responded to one of the critical videos shared on social media. The former Atletico player, who now represents Orlando City, defended David as the forward came under scrutiny from fans.
David joined Atletico from Juventus on loan at the end of the summer transfer window. His arrival has therefore so far been followed by discussion about his fitness and appearance rather than his performances for the club.
The Canadian has yet to make his debut for Atletico and is still adapting to training under Simeone. Until he plays, the online criticism remains based on his physical appearance and the limited images supporters have seen since his move.
Griezmann’s intervention offered public backing from a player with a previous connection to Atletico. The Frenchman spent time at the Madrid club before continuing his career elsewhere and is now playing for Orlando City.
David’s first appearance will provide the earliest opportunity for Atletico supporters to judge him in competitive action. For now, however, the forward’s introduction to the club has been marked by social media criticism and Griezmann’s decision to come to his defence.