Pedro Porro has called Barcelona’s interest “flattering”, but the Tottenham right-back made a point of saying he is happy in north London and has a contract to respect, and Spurs’ asking price is now the biggest thing standing between Barca and a deal.
The 27-year-old spoke to SPORT on Tuesday from Spain’s camp at Las Rozas, where the world champions are preparing for games against the Czech Republic and England. On the same day, the Catalan paper reported that Tottenham value him at €70m to €80m, roughly double what Barcelona are prepared to pay.
It is the latest twist in a story that started at the end of October, when Barcelona asked about Tottenham’s World Cup-winning right-back.
What did Pedro Porro say about Barcelona?
Pedro Porro did not shut the door, but he did not open it either. Asked about the interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid, he went straight back to Tottenham.
“Simply, as I’ve said before, I have a contract with my club and I’m very happy there. I also have to respect that,” Porro said. “Obviously, football is like this: things come out, rumours come out, but now I’m focused on the national team and then we’ll see.”
Was it flattering that Barca had asked? “Yes, of course it’s flattering. When one of the best clubs in the world is interested in you, or at least that’s what they say, it’s always good, because I’m probably doing my job well. You have to keep going in the same direction.”
‘I hadn’t seen that’
The interviewer then told him that Joan Laporta had named him as one of his favourite players. Porro had not heard. “I hadn’t seen it. It’s also flattering on his part,” he said. “As I said before, it’s good that, for example, the president of another club that isn’t mine values your work. It probably means I’m doing things well.”
Notice the words “that isn’t mine”. Every answer came back to the same place: Spurs are his club, and he is under contract.
Tottenham’s price tag and Barcelona’s problem
The bigger news was in SPORT’s report on where the deal actually stands. Porro is high on Barcelona‘s list of full-back targets, and Hansi Flick likes the way he overlaps and defends. His partnership with Lamine Yamal at the World Cup only added to the interest.
The problem is money. According to SPORT, Tottenham value Porro at around €70m to €80m, a figure Barcelona regard as completely out of the market and are not willing to pay. Barca would be comfortable spending about €40m, and even that depends on selling first, with financial fair play shaping their plans.
Spurs hold the cards. Porro renewed his contract until June 2031 earlier this year, so if Tottenham don’t want to sell, they don’t have to. Barcelona have reportedly told the player’s camp that if he wants the move, he will need to get involved himself to bring Spurs’ price down.
Why a sale at Barcelona comes first
Barca need money in before they spend it. Jules Koundé’s future is undecided, and Alejandro Balde has played just 124 minutes in more than two months. SPORT says Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal have shown interest in the pair, although nothing is serious yet, and selling one of them would be the key to bringing Porro in.
Balde is a name Spurs fans will know, as we looked at in our Alejandro Balde scouting report earlier this week.
Porro on Spurs’ struggles and his own fitness
Porro also spoke about the injury that kept him out earlier this season. “Good, very good, really. I’m recovered,” he said. “I’ve come through a progression of minutes that was more or less planned, and I’m very well.”
He admitted it hurts to see Tottenham where they are. “Yes, it’s hard. It hurts me to see my team, which has always competed in high positions, in this situation. But it’s all part of a new project,” he said. “This year we haven’t started in the best way possible, but we’re getting into a slightly more positive run, and that’s good. Hopefully we can keep going up.”
And can Spurs get back to the top? “Yes, of course. We have to be an ambitious team, with character and a positive mentality. If we do things well and keep developing the project, we can be competing up there because we have the squad for it.”
He was full of praise for Yamal, too: “For me it’s a privilege to play with him because he’s the best.” The Barcelona winger, he added, helps him defensively when he is struggling, and Porro has told him to go and attack because he will be there to cover.
Spain’s two games this break, and the rest of the Spurs players away, are in our guide to where Tottenham’s internationals play.
Will Porro leave Tottenham for Barcelona?
Not in January, on these numbers. A €30m to €40m gap is not something you bridge in a winter window, especially when the buying club needs to sell first and the selling club has a player tied down until 2031.
What stands out from the interview is how carefully Porro chose his words. Last month he said he would love to go back to Spain one day. This time it was respect for his contract, happiness at the club and belief that Spurs can compete at the top. That reads like a player who knows the noise is there and does not want to add to it.
The danger for Tottenham is the summer. If Barcelona sell Koundé or Balde and Porro does start pushing, the conversation changes. For now, Spurs have their World Cup-winning right-back back fit, and the only price that matters is theirs.
