Several sources are claiming that Manchester City are potentially interested in bringing former academy player Pedro Porro back to the Etihad this summer.
For those with a slightly shorter memory, Porro was a City acquisition back in 2019, arriving from Girona. However, his time with the club was… well, unique. He never actually donned the Cityzens' shirt in a competitive fixture, immediately heading out on loan to Real Valladolid before enjoying a successful spell at Sporting CP, where he eventually made his move permanent in 2022.
Now, it seems the whispers suggest City are considering a swoop to re-sign the Spanish international in the upcoming transfer window. But it won't be a straightforward affair, with Bayern Munich and Barcelona also reportedly keen on his services.
Tottenham Hotspur, Porro's current club, are understandably reluctant to part ways with a player who has been a standout performer for them, even amidst a disappointing league campaign. However, the report indicates that a significant offer in the region of €60-€65 million (£50-£55 million) could potentially tempt Spurs into a sale.
Interestingly, back in November, some reports suggested Porro could command a fee as high as £80 million. The apparent drop in valuation could be attributed to Tottenham's struggles this season.
This potential move would see City revisit a familiar transfer strategy, having previously splashed a similar amount (£50 million back in 2017) to bring another Tottenham right-back, Kyle Walker, to Manchester. We all know how that turned out!
The big question, of course, is whether City will indeed make a concrete move for Porro, and crucially, how receptive the player himself would be to a return. His initial spell at the club was certainly unconventional.
Despite technically being a City player, Porro never even made it to Manchester, trained with the squad, or met Pep Guardiola. Reflecting on that period in December 2023, Porro stated (via Daily Mail):
"It’s not just in football, in any walk of life when you realise that you don’t fit in or not part of something, you have just got to get on with it,’ says Porro of his time at City. ‘You’ve got to follow your own path. One thing I am as an individual, I’m very ambitious and I showed quite a lot of strength to come through that and to get where I am today by following my own path. It’s cool. I have total respect for City.
It happens in football, I just probably wasn’t in their plans at that time. When you are a footballer, you have to look for ways out of that situation, whether it’s a move or a loan.”
The fact that there appears to be no lingering animosity from Porro's side could well open the door for a potential reunion.