Porto President Pinto da Costa has ruled out making a swoop for Barcelona defender Marc Bartra this summer.
The 24-year-old has been tipped to depart Camp Nou after spending another season on the outskirts of the first team, but he will not be joining up with his fellow Spaniard Julen Lopetegui at Estadio do Dragao.
“I don’t know about Bartra. Certainly, he must be a good player if he plays for Barca, but we’re not interested in him,” the patron told Mundo Deportivo.
“[Coach Julen] Lopetegui is in Cancun until next week and didn’t say anything about the player before he left.
“We already have [Bruno] Martins Indi, who’s a Netherlands international, [Hector] Herrera, who is at Copa America with Mexico, Maicon, Alex Sandro…”
Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur are now considered favourites for Bartra’s signature, according to the newspaper.
The stopper recently revealed that his lack of game time triggered a €12m release clause but remains keen to stay at Barca, despite his wishes to feel more important.
