De Zerbi Puts Porro Off-Limits as City and Madrid Circle

Tottenham have firmly shut the door on any potential departure for Pedro Porro this summer, with manager Roberto De Zerbi determined to keep the Spanish right-back at the heart of his project.

The Lilywhites have received approaches from Manchester City, who are hunting for a new full-back following Enzo Maresca's appointment as Pep Guardiola's successor, as well as Atletico Madrid. City have already made contact with Porro's representatives, while the player himself has been valued at nearly £60 million by the north London club.

Yet Spurs are having none of it. De Zerbi views Porro as a cornerstone of his squad rebuild and has no intention of letting him leave. The club's stance is unequivocal: the 25-year-old former Manchester City academy product is going nowhere.

This is not the first time Tottenham have had to fend off suitors for their reliable defender. Earlier this month, Real Madrid were also linked with a move for Porro as they searched the market for right-back reinforcements. Madrid ultimately opted to pursue Denzel Dumfries from Inter Milan instead, but the Spanish giants had certainly explored the possibility of prising Porro away from White Hart Lane.

De Zerbi's confidence in Porro underscores his importance to whatever Tottenham are trying to build. The manager sees him as an essential component of restarting the club's ambitions on a firmer footing, and with City, Madrid, and Madrid's Atlético all circling, that endorsement may prove invaluable in keeping him focused on the task at hand in North London.