There were suggestions Barton was heading to Pompey and it provoked anger and concern among many Pompey fans worried by the player's disciplinary record both on and off the field.
But Redknapp has insisted any link with Barton was nothing but pure fantasy.
Redknapp: "I do not know where it came from because it's absolute rubbish.
"I have not even thought about it. It's just ridiculous, that's all I can say.
"I hadn't even seen the story on Sky. I was at Fulham watching our reserves play. Then all of a sudden people kept asking about Joey Barton.
"People were ringing me up going on about him, but it was complete news to me - and you'd think I would know.
"Sure I like him (as a player). Regardless of everything else he's a good player, but I wasn't looking to sign him. It hadn't even crossed my mind to be perfectly honest.
"Besides, I had no money to buy anyone else. I thought everyone knew that."
Redknapp predicts the Premier League will soon be dominated by foreign owners whose interference will erode the art of management.
Redknapp: "In future managers will not be responsible for buying and selling players.
"So many owners with huge financial clout are coming in now and they're the ones who will buy and sell the players.
"The manager's job will only be about coaching and picking the team.
"Managers as we know them now could be a thing of the past within the next decade. I can see the manager's role being reduced.
"Now owners will go 'we'll have him, him and him' and the managers must get on with it.
"For sure that's detrimental to football and the art of football management.
"Managers will have to pick the big names bought by the owners and if they're not successful they'll suffer.
"There will be more and more mega-rich owners coming from abroad and there will be more and more interference.
"Players will be given to the manager, who won't have a whole lot of input into the process.
"Soon every club in the Premiership will be owned by mega-rich foreign investors. That's how it will go.
"Every one of them will want to win the Premier League and the Champions League.
"But only two sides can do that so it will become even harder for managers as they pay the price. It will be like a revolving door.
"Owners will say 'I've put £100million into football why aren't I winning the Premier League?'
"The manager will take the fall and I see there being a big turnover in managers in years to come."
was as surprised as anyone. He was out playing golf that day and suddenly he's got Robinho.
"He wasn't instrumental in the process and the first time he met the player was Tuesday.
"It's not a case of a manager ordering a report on a player, having him scouted, meeting him and getting to know him.
"It used to be that you'd want a feel for the player to know if he's the type of lad you want at your club and to play for you."