“A little special for me” – Tottenham star opens up on relationship with Manchester City

Tottenham Hotspur star Pedro Porro has opened up on his relationship with Manchester City following his short-lived spell with the Etihad Stadium club.

City signed Porro in the summer of 2019 for a reported fee of £11 million, immediately loaning the talent to La Liga side Real Valladolid, who retained an option to buy. However, after playing just 13 league games, Valladolid opted against making their loan permanent.

Porro would subsequently go on to join Sporting CP on a two-year loan agreement, ultimately triggering an option to buy at the end of their temporary deal, with the player earning a high-profile, big-money move to Tottenham following an exemplary rise in January 2023.

Speaking last week in an interview with Spanish newspaper AS, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness, Pedro Porro was quizzed on whether playing for Tottenham against Manchester City was ‘special’ due to his history with the Premier League champions.

“They signed me from Girona and that love for trusting me at that moment, even if I didn’t fit into their plans later, does make it a little special for me,” Porro admitted. “Our paths separated, I wish them the best and me to continue with my life.”

But despite the eventual success with Sporting CP and now Tottenham, some are wondering whether Porro still holds any regret about moving to Manchester City from Girona having not earned any game time at the Etihad Stadium.

“No,” he responded. “At that moment what happened, happened, and as a result of that I’m the player I am today. If they saw that I was not ready for the Premier League at that time, I respect their decision.”

Manchester City and Tottenham, and particularly Pedro Porro, have already met on two occasions this season across two different competitions, with a Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium and an FA Cup fourth round tie in North London.

Pep Guardiola’s side would go on to score their first-ever goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in their most recent meeting, with Nathan Ake’s late goal on Friday night booking City’s place in the fifth round of the competition.