Why Pedro Porro is a must-sign if Real Madrid are serious about winning

Real Madrid have a number of needs in the upcoming summer transfer window. Their biggest – another superstar forward – will finally be filled by the best player in the world, Kylian Mbappe. His signing seems like a mere formality at this stage.

But Madridistas know that Mbappe alone cannot solve all the problems with this squad. These are problems that have been exposed by big clubs (PSG and Barcelona), mid-level sides (Athletic Bilbao, Villarreal), and smaller sides (Getafe, Elche, and Cadiz to name three).

Erling Haaland and Mbappe would be quite the Galactic pairing, but there are many Real Madrid fans who would rightfully prefer to see the club invest in a multitude of upgrades as opposed to just signing two forwards.

At the forefront of their worries is the right back position. It has become a footballing crisis for Real Madrid tactically. Lucas Vazquez is the lone backup, and while he is serviceable, he is not a true right back. Dani Carvajal is injury-prone and no longer an elite player. If he could be excused for struggling against Kylian Mbappe in the first leg, then Barcelona’s Ferran Torres truly exposed Carvajal as a player who is no longer one of the world’s best at his position.

Pedro Porro is the best fit and value at RB for Real Madrid

In fairness, Real Madrid have already signed a right back. The 18-year-old Vinicius Tobias has serious potential. He could be a starter for this club one day. But for now, he is a prospect. A loanee. A young man who will get his start with Castilla and work his way into the first team from there. Perhaps he can quickly be the answer, but that’s unlikely. How many teenagers are stars defensively? Think about that.

If Real Madrid are serious about winning a treble in the near future – and by signing Mbappe, they clearly have to be serious – then they need to make a big move to fill their key weakness. Alvaro Odriozola already failed to impress in multiple seasons in Madrid. What makes anyone think a lukewarm loan spell at Fiorentina will change fortunes? How much upside does a 26-year-old right back with average technical ability and defensive weaknesses have?

As has been pointed out months ago, Sporting CP’s Pedro Porro remains the best option at right back for Real Madrid. There should be serious interest in him. The links between Madrid and Porro are hard to track, because there is so much dubious info posted.

To me, the most logical info comes from La Saeta Rubia, who says that while there is nothing concrete between Porro and Madrid right now, the young right back would want to play for the Merengues. So if Real want him, he is very much achievable.

Porro wouldn’t be cheap, but 30 million euros is a fair price for a 22-year-old right back in the midst of a very good season. He is the best young right back money can buy, considering the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James are just about unsellable.

With three goals and four assists in Portugal’s top flight this season, Porro has the end product. He is an all-around presence at right back with serious potential. And if there are concerns about Liga NOS, Madridistas should know first-hand of the quality this league produces. Real obtained Eder Militao and Casemiro directly from FC Porto. Pepe, too. Angel Di Maria, James Rodriguez, and obviously Cristiano Ronaldo are among the former stars at the club who were products of this league. Elsewhere, Luis Diaz and Bruno Fernandes have made comfortable transitions to the Premier League from Porto and Sporting CP, respectively.

The fullback positions matter a lot to Madrid. Carvajal and Marcelo were key to the three-peat era, with Marcelo standing out as one of the very best players in the world during this period. Ronaldo can certainly attest to how much Marcelo helped him.

Real may like the potential combo of Ferland Mendy and Miguel Gutierrez on the left, but neither can be called an elite fullback as of right now. So that makes getting a true all-around star on the right side even more important. Miguel is still developing despite his huge potential, while Mendy’s offensive deficiencies preclude him from being world-class. Great defending only counts for so much value in this scheme.

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Porro is the guy. Real Madrid should consider other options and not get caught up too much in one man, just in case, but I cannot name a better fit stylistically or a more talented young player than Porro. Real must go young at right back, and they must sign someone who can already compete with Carvajal. Porro, for the price, represents a strong value. Real must show Mbappe they will do whatever it takes to build a winning project. Signing Porro is a step in doing that.