Cristian Portugués Manzanera (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈkɾistjam poɾtuˈɣes manθaˈneɾa];[α] born 21 May 1992), commonly known as Portu ([ˈpoɾtu]), is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a winger for La Liga club Girona.
 Portu training with Real Sociedad in 2021 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Cristian Portugués Manzanera | ||
| Date of birth | 21 May 1992[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Beniel, Spain[2] | ||
| Height | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Girona | ||
| Number | 24 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1996–1999 | Beniel | ||
| 1999–2007 | Murcia | ||
| 2007–2009 | Valencia | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2009–2014 | Valencia B | 129 | (5) |
| 2014 | Valencia | 1 | (0) |
| 2014–2016 | Albacete | 75 | (12) |
| 2016–2019 | Girona | 112 | (28) |
| 2019–2023 | Real Sociedad | 109 | (16) |
| 2022–2023 | → Getafe (loan) | 34 | (0) |
| 2023 | Getafe | 3 | (0) |
| 2023– | Girona | 28 | (5) |
| International career | |||
| 2009 | Spain U17 | 5 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:55, 27 April 2024 (UTC) | |||
He played over 240 La Liga games and scored over 40 goals, in service of Valencia, Girona, Real Sociedad and Getafe, winning the Copa del Rey with the third of those clubs in 2019–20.
Club career edit
Valencia edit
Born in Beniel, Region of Murcia, Portu played as a child at local CD Beniel and Real Murcia before moving to Valencia CF's youth system in 2009.[3] He made his senior debut with the reserves at only 17, going on to spend several seasons with the side in the Segunda División B as well as one in the Tercera División; in January 2012, he was called up by first-team manager Unai Emery due to a string of injuries.[4]
Portu played his first official game with the Che's main squad on 27 February 2014, coming on as a late substitute for fellow youth graduate Federico Cartabia in a 0–0 home draw against FC Dynamo Kyiv in the round of 32 of the UEFA Europa League.[5] His maiden appearance in La Liga came three days later, as he started and was booked in a 1–0 away loss to Rayo Vallecano.[6]
Albacete edit
On 11 July 2014, it was announced that Valencia had sold Portu to Segunda División club Albacete Balompié with a buy-back option.[7] He scored his first professional goals on 18 October, netting a brace but in a 3–2 defeat at CD Mirandés.[8]
Girona edit
On 21 June 2016, after Alba's relegation, Portu signed a three-year deal with Girona FC also in the second tier.[9] He scored eight goals (also providing eight assists) in his first season, helping the Catalans to a first-ever top flight promotion.[10]
Portu bettered that total to 11 the following campaign, as Girona easily retained their league status.[11] Highlights included the winner in a 2–1 comeback victory against Real Madrid on 29 October 2017,[12] and a brace to ensure a 2–2 draw at Real Betis on 25 November.[13] The following 24 February, he took three minutes to give his club a lead away to neighbours FC Barcelona, albeit in a 6–1 loss.[14]
In 2018–19, Portu contributed nine goals, while his team were relegated.[15]
Real Sociedad edit
On 18 June 2019, Real Sociedad announced via their Twitter account that they had reached a preliminary agreement for the transfer of Portu for a fee of €10 million;[16][17] the five-year contract was confirmed the same day.[18] He scored his first goal for his new team on 29 September, in a 3–2 away loss against Sevilla FC.[19]
On 3 April 2021, the club from San Sebastián won their first major trophy since 1987, lifting the Copa del Rey in the delayed 2020 final against local rivals Athletic Bilbao. Portu was fouled by Iñigo Martínez, from which Mikel Oyarzabal scored the game's only goal from the penalty spot.[20]
Getafe edit
On 21 June 2022, Portu joined Getafe CF on loan with an option to buy.[21] Exactly one year later, he signed a permanent three-year contract with the club.[22]
Girona return edit
On 1 September 2023, Girona announced the return of Portu on a four-year deal.[23] He scored in his first appearance two days later, the game's only goal at home against UD Las Palmas.[24] On 4 May 2024, within a minute of coming on as a substitute when his team trailed Barcelona 2–1 at home, he scored an equaliser; he then netted a long-range volley to secure a 4–2 victory and his club's first UEFA Champions League qualification, while handing the league title to Real Madrid.[25]
Career statistics edit
| Club | Season | League | Copa del Rey | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Valencia B | 2009–10 | Segunda División B | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||
| 2010–11 | Tercera División | 25 | 1 | — | — | — | 25 | 1 | ||||
| 2011–12 | Segunda División B | 33 | 2 | — | — | — | 33 | 2 | ||||
| 2012–13 | Segunda División B | 34 | 1 | — | — | — | 34 | 1 | ||||
| 2013–14 | Segunda División B | 34 | 1 | — | — | 2[a] | 0 | 36 | 1 | |||
| Total | 129 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 131 | 5 | |||
| Valencia | 2013–14 | La Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |
| Albacete | 2014–15 | Segunda División | 36 | 6 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 39 | 6 | ||
| 2015–16 | Segunda División | 39 | 6 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 40 | 6 | |||
| Total | 75 | 12 | 4 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 79 | 12 | |||
| Girona | 2016–17 | Segunda División | 41 | 8 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 41 | 8 | ||
| 2017–18 | La Liga | 37 | 11 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 37 | 11 | |||
| 2018–19 | La Liga | 34 | 9 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 36 | 10 | |||
| Total | 112 | 28 | 3 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | 115 | 29 | |||
| Real Sociedad | 2019–20 | La Liga | 35 | 7 | 6[c] | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 41 | 7 | |
| 2020–21 | La Liga | 37 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 8[b] | 1 | 1[d] | 0 | 47 | 9 | |
| 2021–22 | La Liga | 37 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 7[b] | 0 | — | 49 | 2 | ||
| Total | 109 | 16 | 12 | 1 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 137 | 18 | ||
| Getafe (loan) | 2022–23 | La Liga | 34 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 37 | 0 | ||
| Girona | 2023–24 | La Liga | 28 | 4 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 33 | 5 | ||
| Career total | 488 | 65 | 27 | 3 | 16 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 534 | 69 | ||
- ^ Appearance in Segunda División B relegation play-offs
- ^ a b c Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
- ^ Includes appearance in 2020 Copa del Rey final (played in 2021)
- ^ Appearance in Supercopa de España
Honours edit
Real Sociedad
Notes edit
- ^ In isolation, Cristian is pronounced [ˈkɾistjan].
References edit
- ^ a b "Cristian Portugués". Real Sociedad. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
- ^ Conesa, Sergio (26 February 2018). "Portu, un goleador de Champions nacido en Beniel" [Portu, a goalscorer against Champions League teams born in Beniel]. La Verdad (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ Luengo, M. J. (19 March 2019). "Portu, el león de Beniel que llegó a la élite en el coche de su abuelo" [Portu, the lion of Beniel who arrived in the elite in his grandfather's car]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ "Emery se ve obligado a convocar a dos canteranos" [Emery is forced to call two youth players]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 21 January 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
- ^ Ramírez, Delfín (27 February 2014). "Valencia hold firm to end Dynamo hopes". UEFA. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
- ^ Acedo, Diego (2 March 2014). "Larrivey fulmina el efecto Pizzi" [Larrivey obliterates Pizzi effect]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 March 2014.
- ^ García Soler, Juan (11 July 2014). "Portu ya es jugador del Albacete Balompié" [Portu is a new player of Albacete Balompié] (in Spanish). 5 Más El Descuento. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
- ^ "Álex García se proclama héroe de Miranda" [Álex García proclaims himself as Miranda's hero]. Marca (in Spanish). 18 October 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
- ^ "El Girona FC fitxa el migcampista Portu" [Girona sign midfielder Portu] (in Catalan). Girona FC. 21 June 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
- ^ Oliva Pérez, Francisco José (14 October 2017). "Análisis del rival: Girona FC, novato y lleno de ilusión" [Opponent analysis: Girona FC, rookie and full of illusion] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
- ^ Thorogood, Tom (3 April 2018). "Signing 11-goal playmaker Portu should be no-brainer for Newcastle United this summer". Here Is The City. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
- ^ "Real Madrid suffer shock defeat at Girona on first visit to Catalan club". The Guardian. 29 October 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ "WATCH: Crazy final La Liga minute as Real Betis grab Girona draw". Sky Sports. 25 November 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ Grounds, Ben (25 February 2018). "Barcelona 6-1 Girona: Luis Suarez scores hat-trick in Catalan derby". Sky Sports. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ Vicente, Álvaro (21 June 2019). "Eusebio: «Portu es un jugador muy competitivo, con mentalidad ganadora»" [Eusebio: "Porto is a very competitive player, with a winning mentality"]. El Diario Vasco (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ "Principio de acuerdo para el traspaso de Portu" [Agreement in principle for transfer of Portu] (in Spanish). Real Sociedad. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
- ^ "OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Preliminary agreement with @GironaFC for the transfer of @portu #OngiEtorriPortu #RealSociedad". Twitter. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
- ^ "Real Sociedad sign Portu from Girona". beIN Sports. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
- ^ López, José María (29 September 2019). "El Sevilla frena a la Real" [Sevilla halt Real]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- ^ "Sociedad beats Basque rival Bilbao in Copa del Rey final". USA Today. 3 April 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ "El Getafe y la Real Sociedad acuerdan la cesión del futbolista" [Getafe and Real Sociedad agree to loan of footballer] (in Spanish). Getafe CF. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ "COMUNICADO OFICIAL | Portu" [OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT | Portu] (in Spanish). Getafe CF. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
- ^ "Portu torna al Girona FC" [Portu returns to Girona FC] (in Catalan). Girona FC. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ García, Miguel Ángel (3 September 2023). "Portu se regala el regreso soñado y pone al Girona segundo" [Portu offers himself a dreamed-of return and puts Girona second]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ "Girona 4–2 Barcelona". BBC Sport. 4 May 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ Portu at WorldFootball.net
- ^ Portu at Soccerway
- ^ Portu at ESPN FC
- ^ Reidy, Paul (3 April 2021). "Athletic Club 0–1 Real Sociedad: result, summary, goal". Diario AS. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
- ^ Lowe, Sid (3 April 2021). "Real Sociedad beat Athletic to claim Copa del Rey and Basque glory". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
External links edit
- Portu at BDFutbol
- Portu at Futbolme (in Spanish)
- Stats and bio at CiberChe (in Spanish)