Cuadrado-gate rocking Italy: Inter asked for a player - and got a fan unrest

We don't want Cuadrado! Those were the words written on Inter's hard-core supporters' group on Monday - and they came as a reaction to the news of their club signing Juventus' Juan Cuadrado that emerged the night before.

About a hundred Nerazzurri supporters gathered in front of Inter's headquarters in the Via della Liberazione street in Milan. The fans had brought a banner and were ready to protest. The flag was to the point, saying, "We don't want Cuadrado". The manifestation of dissent, however, never began. Outside the headquarters, a club representative explained why Inter executives Giuseppe Marotta and Piero Ausilio started negotiations to bring Cuadrado to the club. They promised the fans an opportunity to speak with the player before the start of the season. The fans had a brief meeting, gathered in a circle in front of the headquarters. In a few seconds, they decided to accept the club's proposal and not to display the banner, effectively giving the go-ahead for Cuadrado's arrival in the Nerazzurri.

But why did the fans react so volatilely to the news of Cuadrado joining them? Well, the Colombian veteran has a history of but-ups with Inter players. The latest of those came in April when the fiery South American had a fight with Romelu Lukaku in the Coppa Italia semi-final game. In 2016, Cuadrado had a serious bust-up with then-Inter star Ivan Perisic, in which the Croat had his hands around Juan's throat.

And regardless of the on-pitch incidents, the fact Cuadrado has played for Juve for nearly a decade automatically made the supporters dislike him.

The Colombian is set to join Inter on a 12-month contract. And for the time being, at least, the black-and-blue fanatics will tolerate him.