Pedro Porro played a decisive role in Tottenham completing the £85m signing of Matheus Fernandes from West Ham, with the Spanish full-back personally urging his former Sporting CP team-mate to join the London club.
Tottenham finalised the Portugal midfielder’s move during the current summer transfer window after overcoming competition from Manchester United. Fernandes will strengthen the club’s midfield from next season, with Porro’s recommendation proving an important part of the deal.
Fernandes, speaking in an interview with The Athletic, details of which were reported by Mundo Deportivo, said Porro contacted him directly before the transfer was completed.
The pair previously played together at Sporting CP, and Fernandes revealed that Porro made it clear he wanted his former team-mate to continue his career at Tottenham.
“One day he called me and said: ‘Come on, Matheus, you have to play with us, we want you’,” said Fernandes.
The new Tottenham midfielder added that Porro had also spoken to his manager, Roberto De Zerbi, to encourage him to complete the move.
He said the Spanish defender told him: “I was the one who asked the coach to sign you.”
Porro’s intervention was not the only factor that persuaded Fernandes to move to Tottenham. The midfielder said the determination shown by De Zerbi, both in his conversations with the player and in his contact with Fernandes’ family, was equally significant.
Fernandes explained that the Tottenham manager maintained regular contact with him throughout the process and presented himself as a supportive figure as the player prepared for a move to England.
“The way he spoke to me and my family was very important to me. He called me every day. He told me that he would be like a second father to me in England. I am very happy to work with him,” Fernandes said.
The £85m agreement brought an end to the contest for Fernandes’ signature, with Tottenham beating Manchester United to the Portugal international. The deal means the London club will add the former Sporting CP midfielder to its squad ahead of next season.
For Fernandes, the transfer has also reunited him with Porro, whose recommendation helped convince Tottenham that the midfielder would be the right addition. Porro’s message to his former team-mate, together with De Zerbi’s repeated efforts to secure the move, played a central role in Fernandes choosing Tottenham.
The midfielder’s comments underline the personal influence behind a major transfer that was eventually completed after interest from two Premier League clubs. While the agreement was formally concluded by Tottenham and West Ham for £85m, Fernandes said Porro’s encouragement and De Zerbi’s approach were crucial to his decision.
