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
Portu training with Real Sociedad in 2021
Personal information
Full name Cristian Portugués Manzanera
Date of birth (1992-05-21) 21 May 1992 (age 31)[1]
Place of birth Murcia, Spain
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)
2022–2023Getafe (loan) 34 (0)
2023 Getafe 3 (0)
2023– Girona 27 (5)
International career
2009 Spain U17 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:43, 20 April 2024 (UTC)

Club career edit

Valencia edit

Born in Murcia, Portu was a product of Valencia CF's youth system. 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.[2]

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.[3] 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.[4]

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.[5] He scored his first professional goals on 18 October, netting a brace but in a 3–2 defeat at CD Mirandés.[6]

Girona edit

On 21 June 2016, after Alba's relegation, Portu signed a three-year deal with Girona FC also in the second tier.[7] He scored eight goals (also providing eight assists) in his first season, helping the Catalans to a first-ever top flight promotion.[8]

Portu bettered that total to 11 the following campaign, as Girona easily retained their league status.[9]

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;[10][11] the five-year contract was confirmed the same day.[12] He scored his first goal for his new team on 29 September, in a 3–2 away loss against Sevilla FC.[13]

Getafe edit

On 21 June 2022, Portu joined Getafe CF on loan with an option to buy.[14] Exactly one year later, he signed a permanent three-year contract with the club.[15]

Girona return edit

On 1 September 2023, Girona announced the return of Portu on a four-year deal.[16] He scored in his first appearance two days later, the game's only goal at home against UD Las Palmas.[17]

Career statistics edit

As of match played 20 April 2024[18][19][20]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
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 27 4 5 1 32 5
Career total 487 65 27 3 16 1 3 0 533 69
  1. ^ Appearance in Segunda División B relegation play-offs
  2. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ Includes appearance in 2020 Copa del Rey final (played in 2021)
  4. ^ Appearance in Supercopa de España

Honours edit

Real Sociedad

Notes edit

  1. ^ In isolation, Cristian is pronounced [ˈkɾistjan].

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Cristian Portugués". Real Sociedad. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ Ramírez, Delfín (27 February 2014). "Valencia hold firm to end Dynamo hopes". UEFA. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  4. ^ Acedo, Diego (2 March 2014). "Larrivey fulmina el efecto Pizzi" [Larrivey obliterates Pizzi effect]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ "El Girona FC fitxa el migcampista Portu" [Girona sign midfielder Portu] (in Catalan). Girona FC. 21 June 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ "OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Preliminary agreement with @GironaFC for the transfer of @portu #OngiEtorriPortu #RealSociedad". Twitter. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  12. ^ "Real Sociedad sign Portu from Girona". beIN Sports. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  13. ^ López, José María (29 September 2019). "El Sevilla frena a la Real" [Sevilla halt Real]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ "COMUNICADO OFICIAL | Portu" [OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT | Portu] (in Spanish). Getafe CF. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  16. ^ "Portu torna al Girona FC" [Portu returns to Girona FC] (in Catalan). Girona FC. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ Portu at WorldFootball.net
  19. ^ Portu at Soccerway
  20. ^ Portu at ESPN FC
  21. ^ Reidy, Paul (3 April 2021). "Athletic Club 0–1 Real Sociedad: result, summary, goal". Diario AS. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  22. ^ 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