There is a case for Manchester City to move for a Spanish right-back on closer inspection | OneFootball

Earlier this week Manchester City were linked with a move for Tottenham right-back Pedro Porro. Spanish publication AS reported that City had initiated contact with Pedro Porro’s camp over a potential move to the Etihad. A fee of £50 million was quoted as Tottenham’s asking price to sell the Spanish international. On first inspection Porro would seemingly be a squad player for Manchester City. However, when you dig a bit deeper there is a strong case for City to move for powerful right-back given the clear strengths of his game which are in direct contrast to what Matheus Nunes offers.

Pedro Porro is a player who would add quality to the Manchester City squad.

Matheus Nunes is firmly established as Manchester City’s first-choice right-back. He has earned that role with his impressive performances throughout the back end of the 2024-25 season and again during City’s 2025-26 campaign. Looking at Pedro Porro and Matheus Nunes, you do sense that they are similar players. Both offer a pronounced threat going forward and are serviceable when defending. In fact, Matheus Nunes ranks as a top defender. However, when you dig deeper, perhaps Porro could come into the Manchester City squad and offer more than simply competition for Matheus Nunes given what he brings to the table in possession.

Squawka produced an interesting article at the end of the 2025-26 season which listed the top 10 performing right-backs of last season.  Squawka’s rating system combined offensive and defensive statistics from across the season to rank the best-performing right-backs. In their list, Pedro Porro ranked third and Matheus Nunes eighth. That was a surprise to discover given how well Nunes performed for Manchester City. Also, Porro played in a poor Tottenham side, which may have been to his benefit in Squawka’s rankings.

The surprise with Porro’s performance is how well he ranked defensively. First and foremost, Porro’s specialty is as an attacking right-back. That is an area where Manchester City would definitely benefit if they did sign Porro. However, defensively, while Porro isn’t spectacular, he is a more than adequate right-back. Porro wins possession well as the linked statistics from DATA MB illustrate. However, Porro does struggle in defensive duels. Aerially, Porro isn’t strong. By comparison, Matheus Nunes is elite in winning defensive duels and very strong aerially.

A view of the comparison of the statistics of Matheus Nunes and Pedro Porro paints a clear picture.  Porro is stronger than Nunes in possession and Matheus Nunes is better than Porro defensively. That is where the contrast lies as does point to why perhaps Manchester City are considering a move for Pedro Porro.

Final thoughts.

Initially, when the report of Manchester City being interested in a move for Pedro Porro emerged, it seemed like the Spanish right-back would come in to provide competition or cover for Matheus Nunes. After all, the right-back position is Nunes’ to lose at City.

Pedro Porro would add another weapon to Manchester City’s play going forward. He’d allow City to operate differently going forward which is perhaps why City have an interest in signing the Spanish international. Porro also isn’t defensive liability that he appears to be so a Manchester City move for him does make sense if City want to be even more dangerous in the final third.