According to a recent print edition of Record (transcripted and translated by Sport Witness), Manchester City are set to finalise the departure of Pedro Porro with Sporting CP leading the race to sign him on loan with a view of landing him permanently upon the completion of his loan spell. The same source has also revealed that the transfer is now ‘imminent’ after Sporting managed to beat Real Betis in pursuit of the talented full-back this summer.
Porro’s Lacklustre Loan Spell At José Zorrilla Stadium
The 20-year-old has experienced an uneventful loan spell at Real Valladolid as he has struggled to secure a regular run of games in Spanish football. He had only made 15 appearances for the La Liga outfit last season but has not scored or picked up an assist for them across all competitions which highlight his lack of productivity in the final third.
Porro deserves some credit for averaging 1.4 tackles, 0.5 interceptions, 1.2 clearances and 1.0 dribbles per game in La Liga this season. However, he has been quite sloppy when distributing the ball as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 66.1% in league football (stats via whoscored).
The Don Benito born talent has also represented Spain at the Under-21 level, having featured in four matches for them thus far. If Porro can show some signs of maturity in the coming seasons, then he might have a decent chance of earning a few senior caps for his nation someday.
What Does The Spanish Youngster Bring To The Table?
Porro can use his quickness and agility to make some driving runs with the ball down the right flank. He has excellent ball control and is always willing to produce a tireless shift for the benefit of his team. The Spaniard has also proven his worth as a capable defender but needs to taste more first-team football next season if he intends to become a household name in European football someday.
Man City Finalising Porro’s Exit: Is Guardiola Making The Right Call?
At the moment, Porro doesn’t have the quality to break into Pep Guardiola’s first-team at the Etihad Stadium. Thus, it seems like the Citizens do not need to keep him for the long-run as they currently have Kyle Walker fighting for a right-back berth with Joao Cancelo week in week out.
A potential move to Sporting this summer could help Porro make a fresh start away from England which could also offer him a chance to earn regular senior-level football in the years to come. At 20, Porro still has a lot of time to develop himself into a top talent, so Guardiola should consider including a buy-back clause just in case he ends up becoming a world-beater in the future.
