Real Madrid Transfers: Ranking the 5 best U23 targets for 2022
3. Sporting CP RB Pedro Porro
For many fans, Real Madrid’s biggest priority after securing Kylian Mbappe as a signing is to snag a new right back. That view may not be shared by the club, who seem to have a lot of faith in Dani Carvajal remaining healthy despite the fact that this has not been the case in recent times. The club is also strongly contemplating bringing back Alvaro Odriozola, though he was poor for Real in 2019-20 and 2020-21.
Madridistas want to see a top-class right back filling Carvajal’s shoes, and while going for a top option is ambitious given Carvajal is under contract through 2024-25, it is not unfeasible for Real to make this move. If they are serious about winning the Champions League and building the best possible sporting project around Mbappe (and Erling Haaland), then they should seriously consider signing Pedro Porro.
The Sporting CP right back will almost certainly be purchased permanently from Manchester City, and, thereafter, he can be sold to Porro’s preferred club.
Real Madrid can pitch Porro significant playing time, as Carvajal is best in a time-share at this stage of his career.
Porro has been one of the breakout stars of the 2021-22 season thus far, showing great crossing and chance-creation at the right back position. That is something Real are lacking at fullback, due to Carvajal’s decline and Ferland Mendy’s defensive focus on the other side. If Miguel Gutierrez truly breaks through, that could change, but we also know Real are much stronger as a team when both fullbacks are overlapping and significantly contributing to the attacking phase.
A prototype of the modern-day right back, Porro is a good player at the age of 22 at a position that is also scarce talent-wise. He is a key player for Sporting and has the intangibles to become a leader for a club, much in the same way that Carvajal has been a figure of resiliency for Real Madrid over the years.
Like Tchouameni and Wirtz, Porro wouldn’t come cheap. But you pay for quality, and Porro is the best right back that money can buy in 2022.