The Portuguese midfielder revealed that Pedro Porro personally urged him to join Tottenham and even recommended him directly to Roberto De Zerbi before the transfer was completed.
New Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mateus Fernandes, who arrived on a £85m fee, has revealed that current Spurs right-back Pedro Porro played a direct and influential role in encouraging his transfer to North London.
In an interview clip released by Stan Sport Football and shared by Daily Hotspur on X, the Portuguese midfielder opened up about the behind-the-scenes conversations that helped convince him to make the move to N17.
Fernandes explained that Porro was not only in his ear persuading him to join Tottenham, but the Spanish full-back actively put his name forward to manager Roberto De Zerbi during transfer discussions.
Recounting the interaction, Fernandes shared Porro’s direct message to him:
“He said, ‘Come on Mateus, come to Tottenham. I told your name to the manager to sign you!'”
The personal endorsement from Porro highlights the strong chemistry within Tottenham’s dressing room and demonstrates how current players are actively aiding the club’s recruitment drive under De Zerbi.
The Sporting CP Connection and Tactical Fit
The relationship between Porro and Fernandes stems from their shared roots in Portuguese football, where both players developed within high-intensity tactical systems at Sporting CP. Porro’s high opinion of Fernandes’ technical quality and work rate made him an enthusiastic advocate for bringing the midfielder to N17.
Fernandes joins a completely transformed Tottenham engine room alongside high-profile signing Sandro Tonali. His ability to break lines, press aggressively in central areas, and retain possession under pressure aligns neatly with De Zerbi’s demanding tactical setup.
With players like Porro taking initiative to foster team culture and assist in bringing top talent to the club, Tottenham continue to build a unified squad as they prepare for the official start of the Premier League campaign.
