Featured Image Credit: X/@bladesman5 & Getty
Topics: Manchester City, Champions League, James McAtee, Sheffield United, Fan Reactions
Josh Lawless
Topics: Manchester City, Champions League, James McAtee, Sheffield United, Fan Reactions
Fans have been left divided after a Manchester City star decided against giving away his shirt following the 3-1 Champions League win over Club Brugge.
1-0 down at half-time, City came from behind to beat the Belgian outfit at the Etihad Stadium, with a solo strikes from Mateo Kovacic and Savinho either side of an own goal from Joel Ordonez ensuring Pep Guardiola's suffered an embarrassing exit from the Champions League.
After taking 11 points from seven games, City finished in 22nd position and will take on Bayern Munich or holders Real Madrid in a two-legged play-off.
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But after the game, one City player caused a stir after a viral video showed him refusing to give his shirt away to a fan.
James McAtee, who recently scored a hat-trick against Salford City in the FA Cup, was an unused substitute for the win over Brugge and was filmed leaving the stadium in his car.
The City academy graduate had his sky blue home shirt in his and appeared to point out a fan to receive it, with a steward set to hand over the jersey.
However, after a voice of what appeared to be a child's mother had said "Thank you", McAtee quickly spotted something.
He proceeded to pull the shirt away and could be heard saying, "Oh no he's got a Sheff Wednesday top on, I hate Sheff Wednesday!".
The stunned mother replied, "Oh no, come on, don't! and "As If" after McAtee drove away.
McAtee has strong links to Wednesday's rivals Sheffield United after spending two seasons on loan at Bramall Lane. His decision not to give the shirt to the supporter was met with split opinions on social media.
One fan on X said: "The way that kid will never forget that & will hate him wherever he goes."
A second said: "That is soo f***ing wrong off him it really is."
However, another disagreed and wrote: "The beautiful game hasn’t died i’m so proud."
A fourth user posted: "Don't care how old you are, rivalries are rivalries. Long may it continue."
A final person posted: "The game is slowly coming back."
After returning from a second loan at Sheffield United, McAtee has scored five goals in 14 games for City this season and the club recently turned down a loan with an option to buy offer from Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.