![Conor Gallagher given bizarre new nickname by Atletico Madrid hours after joining from Chelsea](https://images.ladbible.com/resize?type=webp&quality=70&width=3840&fit=contain&gravity=auto&url=https://images.ladbiblegroup.com/v3/assets/blta90d05ad41a54a71/blt28e9354e6645948d/66c717b223cc704cffca4a7c/Screenshot_2024-08-22_at_11.47.53.png)
Conor Gallagher has already picked up a new nickname in Spain after the England international made the move from Stamford Bridge to La Liga side, Atletico Madrid.
Gallagher was presented to 30,000 Atletico Madrid supporters on Wednesday evening, and the midfielder even managed to practice some of his Spanish.
"Hello, I don’t speak much Spanish. I am very happy. Aupa Atleti! (In Spanish)," he told fans at the Metropolitano Stadium.
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With reports suggesting Gallagher wasn't particularly inclined to make the move away from Chelsea, the 24-year-old released an emotional statement via Instagram to pay tribute to his time at the club.
"To everyone at Chelsea, thank you for making my dreams come true. It's been an absolute honor every time I put on the shirt, and it was a dream come true to captain the team on many occasions," he wrote.
"I loved every moment. These memories will last forever. I appreciate all the love and support from the fans. Hearing the chant of my name at the Bridge is a special feeling, and the banner you displayed meant the world to me.
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"Thank you for everything. I wish the club all the best for the future, and I hope to see you all soon at Stamford Bridge," he concluded.
Gallagher becomes Atletico's first English player since Kieran Trippier made the move from Spurs in 2019.
Since his arrival, the midfielder seems to have picked up a new nickname as he has been referred to as 'Guiri' multiple times on Atleti's social media accounts.
"Guiri" is a Spanish term often used to describe a tourist, typically from northern Europe, who may not fully engage with or understand local culture.
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![Conor Gallagher- Getty](https://images.ladbible.com/resize?type=webp&quality=70&width=3840&fit=contain&gravity=auto&url=https://images.ladbiblegroup.com/v3/assets/blta90d05ad41a54a71/blt7e287d48875555af/66c715c1c137c43dfc5b5104/GettyImages-2160888651.jpg)
If a bar, restaurant, or other place of leisure is labeled as "guiri," it might be considered a tourist trap and potentially worth avoiding.
However, while the meaning behind the phrase may seem slightly negative, it is most certainly being used as a term of endearment by Gallagher's new club.
Gallagher could make his Atletico debut this weekend as Diego Simeone's side take on Girona at home, following their 2-2 draw with Villarreal on matchday one.
Topics: Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Conor Gallagher, Football, Kieran Trippier, La Liga