Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are both reportedly interested in signing Manchester City ace Pedro Porro, who is currently shining on loan at Sporting CP.
According to a report from Portuguese publication O Jogo, as relayed by Sport Witness, Real Madrid will have to battle neighbours and arch-rivals Atletico Madrid for the signing of Manchester City right-back Pedro Porro, who is on loan at Sporting CP.
Porro signed for Manchester City in the summer of 2019 from Spanish outfit Girona and was immediately loaned out to Real Valladolid, where he did not feature much, making just 15 appearances. Upon returning last year, the 22-year-old was shipped out on a two-year temporary spell to Portuguese giants Sporting CP.
Porro has been a huge hit at Sporting, helping the club win the Portuguese league title last season while he has been in impressive form in the ongoing campaign. To date, the Spanish defender has featured 54 times for his loan club, bagging a return of seven goals and four assists across all competitions.
Sporting have the option of making his signing permanent in the summer for a nominal fee of just €8.5 million, which they intend to. In fact, the report indicates that they already have a contract agreement in place with Porro. However, both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are now looking to snare him away from their clutches at the end of the season.
Real Madrid’s interest in the one-time capped Spanish international makes a lot of sense, considering that Dani Carvajal is not getting any younger and has had a series of injury and fitness problems over the past couple of years. With Alvaro Odriozola not favoured at the club and Lucas Vazquez failing to perform at the level he did last season as a makeshift right-back previous term, a new player is needed for Los Blancos.
Several players have been linked, with Sevilla’s Gonzalo Montiel believed to be among the targets, while Porro has also been on the club’s radars for a while now. However, they will now have to compete with neighbours Atletico Madrid to sign the 22-year-old Spaniard.
The Rojiblancos are staring at the prospect of losing first-choice right-back Kieran Trippier, who is in talks with Manchester United over a move. With Sime Vrsaljko having his fair share of injury issues, Diego Simeone will have to rely on Marcos Llorente at right-back in case Trippier does end up leaving. It makes Porro a viable transfer target for the reigning La Liga champions.
With Sporting intent on triggering the option to sign him permanently, both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will likely have to negotiate with them in the summer. Manchester City are set to end up with just the €8.5 million fees that the Portuguese giants would have to pay them. It will be interesting to see whether the two La Liga behemoths can convince Sporting to part ways with Porro come summer.
