Atletico cool Torres talk
29 Jun 2007 - 12:41:53
Atletico Madrid insist they still want to keep Fernando Torres after reports suggested the Spain international was close to sealing a big-money move to Liverpool.
The 23-year-old has been linked with a transfer to Anfield for much of the summer and it was reported that the two clubs had agreed a fee in the region of £27million for the striker.
However, an Atletico spokesperson said on Friday: "At the moment, there is nothing happening.
"There are no negotiations taking place, although things can change.
"The player is on holiday at the moment and will report back to training on July 9 for the Intertoto match (at the end of July).
"At the moment, any talk of a move is just speculation and we are still hopeful that Fernando will be with us next season."
Atletico fans have protested against the sale of Torres, but their major shareholder, Miguel Angel Gil Marin, had said earlier in the week: "No one is irreplaceable.
"We have to build a competitive team and no one player, however good he is, can achieve our objectives on his own.
"Last time I spoke to Fernando he said he was staying but I can't prevent him having a change of heart and I have to be prepared for that."
Torres has been the leading scorer for Atletico in the last four seasons, as well as netting 14 times in 42 appearances for his country.