The former Barcelona man made his debut in Russia on Saturday but sections of the club's support questioned the signing of a black player
Malcom has been greeted at new club Zenit St. Petersburg by a banner that has been deemed to be racist.
The Brazil international swapped Barcelona for Russiathis week in a €39 million (£36m/$44m) deal, and made his Zenit debut on Saturday in a 1-1 draw with Krasnodar, during which a section of the supporters took the opportunity to sarcastically applaud their team’s adherence to what they view as a traditional refusal to sign black players.
“We are not racist,” the manifesto said, “and for us the absence of black players is just an important tradition, empahasising the identity of the club and nothing more.
“We, as the northernmost club of the major European cities, have never been mentally connected with Africa, however, as with South America or Australia or Oceania.
“We have absolutely nothing against the inhabitants of these or any other continents, but at the same time we want players who are close in spirit to speak for Zenit.
“Now, black players for Zenit are being forced almost by force, and this causes only backlash. Let us be what we are.”