Sancho 2.0: Txiki Begiristain may have just made another £73m transfer blunder at MCFC - opinion

Manchester City have parted ways with their highly-rated Spanish full-back Pedro Porro, who had his deal to Sporting CP confirmed.

Fabrizio Romano confirmed the report and shared details over the 22-year-old’s departure from Manchester City.

Taking to Twitter, Romano said: “Official, confirmed. Sporting have now signed Pedro Porro, permanent deal from Man City for €8.5m clause triggered. Contract signed until June 2025. Manchester City will have a buy back clause for €20m. Release clause for all the other clubs will be €45m.”

Has there ever been a case where an untried and untested youngster has departed Manchester City without making a single appearance for the first team?

Yes. The £73m Jadon Sancho.

Porro’s case is slightly different though, in the fact that he did not come through the Manchester City academy, but was instead signed from fellow City Group club Girona, for a fee of around £10.8m.

He was then loaned out immediately to Real Valladolid and upon his return to City, was loaned out again, this time to Sporting CP, where he has drastically developed his game and ultimately signed on a permanent deal.

Considering Guardiola’s lack of depth in the full-back position, amidst Porro’s breakout performances in Portugal, the sale of the 22-year-old feels rather silly.

Two seasons with Ruben Amorim’s side has seen Porro level up his craft as a full-back. Operating in a back-three system, he has been given licence to push forward and express himself.

And that he has, having helped himself to four goals and four assists this season in 23 appearances in the Portuguese top-flight.

His performances have seen him better the likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kyle Walker in terms of shooting metrics and direct attacking threat,