Atletico Madrid are facing a fans' revolt over the possible sale of Fernando Torres, the forward, to Liverpool.

Talks between the two clubs over a potential £25 million move for the Spanish international have taken place. But the Madrid club are facing a backlash from supporters who are unhappy at the prospect of their idol being sold to the Champions League finalists.

Atletico fans have already staged a protest in a Madrid square against the sale of the 23 year-old, a youth product of the club who has constantly professed his love for the team he has supported since childhood. That pressure is likely to delay any deal at least until the player returns from holiday on July 10.

And Atletico will now be even more determined to extract every last penny from Liverpool, so that they can sell the deal to their fans as having got best possible financial outcome.

Enrique Cerezo, the Atletico president, has insisted no official bid has been made by Liverpool and the Merseysiders may now have to wait for Torres to return to pre-season training in the hope he will force the issue then by insisting that he wants to move to Anfield.