Pedro Porro donating Tottenham wages to aid search for Valencia flood survivors

Tottenham and Spain defender Pedro Porro has revealed he is donating part of his salary to the relief efforts in his country following last week's devastating floods in Valencia.

The death toll currently stands at 217 after a year's worth of rainfall fell in parts of the region last week, but authorities are still searching for scores of missing people.

Thousands of volunteers have been helping the clean-up efforts in the worst affected areas and Porro says he would be "the first to show up" were it not for his commitments in England.

"For a Spaniard, today, for all Spaniards, it’s a sad day," Porro said after Spurs' 4-1 win over Aston Villa on Sunday. "I think we’ve had three, four, five days of terrible suffering, especially.

"I can’t even imagine what it’s like for everyone involved in Valencia. And, as I posted on social media, I want to dedicate this victory to them.”

"There’s a sense of helplessness," Porro added. "Helplessness about not being there, because I know what it’s like to be ‘in the mud’, as you say.

"I’d be the first one there to help, to show up but I’m in London, I have competitions, [so] I can’t.

"I’d say it’s [a feeling of] helplessness because I’d like to help, but I’ve already spoken to my agents, and I’m going to donate part of my salary to cover whatever they need, to buy shovels, food, especially. Anything they need."

Porro joined Spurs as a wing-back from Sporting Lisbon in January 2023 but has been a mainstay on the right side of Ange Postecoglou's back four since the start of last season.

"Above all, [I feel] very confident, also because it’s not my first season, I already played last season in a back four, so I’m more used to it, correcting what I’m not doing well, taking advantage of what I’m doing right," he said when asked about his progress in English football.

"And that’s also helped me get back into the national team. Yes, really, [I feel] confident and ready to keep going."

Porro joined Sporting at the same time as new Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim and says the Portuguese boss helped build up his confidence.

"He's a great coach," Porro said. "I worked with him for three years and I wish him all the best. Also, well, he’s coming to one of the best stages in the world, which is the Premier League, so I hope things go as well as possible for him.

"Above all, he helped me a lot with confidence. I think the confidence he gave me was fundamental for me, and that’s why, when I arrived at Sporting, things went well for me.

"The style of play also suited me well, and I think I’ve always said it in previous interviews that it was the confidence he gave me."