He said: "If it was me selling him, Thierry would be going for a lot more than that. Barca did well to get him for that price.

"I went to Spurs a couple of days after he went so comparisons between the two transfers were bound to happen. But I'm not worried by it - it's just the market.

"Barcelona managed to get Thierry for £16m and Tottenham came and got me for £16.5m - it doesn't mean we're the same.

"Its simply what Tottenham were willing to pay and what Barca were willing to pay."