Manchester City have boosted their summer transfer fund as defender Pedro Porro has completed his anticipated permanent transfer to Sporting CP.
Right-back Porro, 22, joined City for around £5.5million in 2019 from sister-club Girona. He was immediately loaned out to Real Valladolid for the season and then joined Sporting on loan in 2020 for a two-year spell.
It was there that Porro made a name for himself, playing a key role in their title success last season and earning a place in the Primeira Liga Team of the Year. His form also earned him a debut for Spain. Now, as his loan comes to an end, Sporting have announced his permanent signing.
ALSO READ: Pep Guardiola can give Fernandinho the Man City farewell he deserves
Announcing the deal, Sporting say they activated their option to sign Porro which was included in the loan agreement, thought to be around €8.5m (£7.2m). The Portuguese club also announced that Porro has a new release clause in his three-year deal, of €45m (£38m).
However, some reports claim that City have a buy-back option for less than half that amount - around €20m (£16.9m). Other clubs like Real Madrid have been linked with Porro, and City have previously utilised buy-back options on players like Angelino, before selling them again for a bigger profit.
“I am very happy," he said. "When I came, I knew I was coming to a great club, but I didn't expect to have conquered what I've conquered in these two years and to have created the family, the strong group, that we created and that is in sight. We played well and won titles. From the beginning, my objective was to help Sporting CP, where I knew that the demand is of a high level. It's a big club, given the opportunity, and I'm very happy to continue”.
Porro raised eyebrows last year when he joked that he didn't think Pep Guardiola knew who he was, saying: "No, I never spoke to Pep Guardiola. I don't think he even knows they hired me [laughs]. But they must be attentive to what I have been doing."
When City played Sporting in this year's Champions League, Guardiola responded to that comment in a spiky manner, saying: "I know him perfectly but we have 250 loan players and I cannot speak with them all.
"I'm happy it’s going well and, of course, I know him. I saw many games and sometimes he played and sometimes he doesn’t."
Sign up to our City newsletter so you never miss an update from the Etihad Stadium this season.
