Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven would likely welcome the chance to join Barcelona if the opportunity arose, according to former Spurs manager Harry Redknapp.
The Dutch centre-back has recently been linked with interest from the Spanish side, and Redknapp believes the attraction of Barcelona would be obvious for most players.
Speaking in an interview with Egyptian outlet WinWin, the former Tottenham boss addressed the speculation around the defender. While he did not suggest a move is imminent, he admitted the appeal of Barcelona is difficult for players to ignore.
“Yes, I’m sure he would love to go to Barcelona,” Redknapp said. “Barcelona are a fantastic club and special for any player who wants to join them.”
Van de Ven has grown into a key figure at Tottenham since joining the club. His pace and recovery ability have made him one of the most important pieces in the defensive structure.
As a result, any suggestion of interest from one of Europe’s biggest clubs naturally draws attention.
Redknapp concerned about Tottenham’s current form
Redknapp also used the interview to speak about Tottenham’s wider situation. The former Spurs manager sounded concerned about the club’s recent performances and results.
Discussing the Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid, he warned that the Spanish side will be extremely difficult to face, especially away from home.
“Going to Atletico Madrid’s stadium is a very difficult place,” he explained. “You know it is a complicated ground and playing there is not easy.”
Redknapp believes Tottenham’s own form makes the challenge even tougher.
“Tottenham have been very poor recently,” he said. “Their performances have been very weak. The team is going through a period of bad results and they have the worst record in England over the last 30 games or something like that.”
Because of that context, the 78-year-old suggested Tottenham may need to prioritise survival in the Premier League over their European ambitions this season.
“So I think the advantage will be for Atletico Madrid,” he continued. “Tottenham’s main problem right now is staying in the Premier League because they are threatened by relegation.”
He also highlighted the intensity of Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid as another problem for Spurs.
“On the other side, Simeone’s team has enormous energy and a big fighting spirit,” he said. “So the game will be very difficult for Tottenham.”
What Redknapp’s warning says about Tottenham’s situation
Coming from someone who knows Tottenham extremely well, the comments carry extra weight.
Redknapp even suggested the manager could consider rotating players in the Champions League if necessary.
“I think the manager could even rest some players,” he said. “Staying in the Premier League is the absolute priority for Tottenham this season.”
That perspective helps explain the tone of his remarks. Rather than focusing on European ambitions, Redknapp sees Tottenham’s immediate priority as stabilising their domestic campaign.
For Redknapp, the message is that Tottenham may be playing on the Champions League stage, but their most urgent battle right now is much closer to home.
