While most clubs focus on the January transfer window, Manchester City is looking ahead, strengthening its positions for the summer. One of the early summer recruits for the Citizens could be the 19-year-old Brazilian winger Savio, whose transfer is rumored to cost around 20 million euros. Currently on loan to Girona, Savio’s contract belongs to the French club Troyes in the second division. All three mentioned clubs are part of the City Football Group, facilitating the player’s transition. At the moment, Pep Guardiola’s team is competing for another Premier League title, and bookmakers offer favorable odds for this event. To place bets on the remaining season matches, you can download the mobile App from one of the leading bookmakers.
Girona’s Sensational Season
The key to Girona’s success lies in teamwork and the absence of a standout leader. However, one player stands out – Savio. The young and promising winger is having possibly his best season in his relatively short career. In the current campaign, he has played 30 matches in all competitions, scoring 9 goals and providing 7 assists. These numbers might seem modest for an attacking player, but considering the amount of work the young Brazilian does on the field, they are fully justified.
Early Years and Journey to Europe
Savio’s football career began at Atletico Mineiro, where he was nurtured. Before moving to Europe, the winger played 35 matches for Atletico Mineiro’s first team, scoring 2 goals. He made his debut under the guidance of Jorge Sampaoli and became the youngest goal scorer in the Copa Libertadores. The football world noticed him thanks to scout Junior Chavare, convinced of the Brazilian’s boundless potential.
Savio’s European journey started in the summer of 2022 when he moved from Atletico Mineiro to Troyes for 6.5 million euros. Soon, the French sent him on loan to PSV. The season in Eindhoven was mediocre for the player: he played more matches for the youth team in the Dutch league than for the first team (9 matches, 2 goals, 2 assists compared to 6 matches, 2 assists). After that, Troyes again loaned Savio, this time to Girona.
Unleashing Talents in Girona
Under Michel’s guidance, Savio fully unleashed his potential. The main secret of success was shifting the winger from the right flank to the left. It turned out that he feels much more comfortable playing there, despite predominantly playing on the right before. On the left-wing, the Brazilian is having the best season of his career. Although he occasionally appeared in other positions under Michel – left midfielder, attacking midfielder, or under the striker – he performed well everywhere. In Girona, he formed a good partnership with Artem Dovbyk, contributing significantly to the Catalan team’s goals and points.
Player’s Strengths
Savio is currently in his prime. He is young, energetic, fast, and technically skilled. The last two components are his strongest attributes. The Brazilian handles the ball well and easily bypasses opponents in most cases. He has 64 successful dribbling attempts, the highest in La Liga and much more than Vinicius (48), with whom he is often compared lately. In addition to dribbling prowess, Savio is the second-highest scorer for Girona in La Liga alongside Christian Stuani (7 goals) and one of the league’s top assist providers (7 assists).
Most of Savio’s appearances this season were on the left flank of the attack. However, he cannot be labeled as a one-position player. He moves where Michel instructs and performs equally well in different positions. This fact is confirmed by the research group Twenty First Group, which valued the player at £40 million.
Necessity for Manchester City?
Manchester City could not overlook such a promising player, especially considering Savio’s expressed desire to play under Pep Guardiola. However, the question arises: is he essential for the Citizens? The club already has Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku as expensive and quality left-wingers. The situation on the right flank is less clear, but there is a strong argument in the form of Phil Foden and the emerging Oscar Bobb, demonstrating effectiveness.
Insurance or Replacement?
Nevertheless, Savio’s transfer could be a precautionary measure for Manchester City. It’s possible that at the end of the season, Bernardo Silva and/or Kevin De Bruyne, often linked with a departure from the English club, might leave. In this case, vacant positions would need to be filled, and Savio is capable of playing on the flanks and under the striker. Additionally, the Brazilian can be loaned back to Girona, where he would continue to develop and gain experience in the Champions League. For Manchester City, this transfer looks promising and certainly not redundant. More important than anything is for the player to make the right choice, as stable development sometimes outweighs the pursuit of trophies.