Savio is expected to join Manchester City from Troyes this summer having never played a competitive minute for the French side. The Brazilian signed from Atletico Mineiro in 2022 and was immediately loaned out to Dutch side PSV. Having struggled for minutes in the Eredivisie powerhouse, Savio was then sent to Girona.
To say the 19-year-old has been key for the Spanish side would be an understatement. A number of players have played their part in Girona's surprise title push. Aleix Garcia has been linked with Barcelona having been intrumental in the middle of the park. Artem Dovbyk has taken to top tier European football like a duck to water, scoring 14 goals and providing five assists following his summer arrival from Dnipro-1. Chelsea are supposedly monitoring the Ukraine international.
Savio, though, has arguably proven the pick of the bunch. Indeed, the teenager has earned a WhoScored rating of 7.21 in Spain's top tier this term having scored five and laid on an additional seven assists; no player has more of the latter in La Liga. The Brazilian has also completed more dribbles (62) than any other player in the division. A skillful left winger willing to run at defences? Sounds familiar, right City fans?
🌪️ Savio has completed more dribbles (62) than any other player in La Liga this season pic.twitter.com/bIKv1S1CGD
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) February 6, 2024
When Jeremy Doku joined from Rennes last summer, the presumed expectation was that Pep Guardiola would curb the Belgian's desire to run at opponents in favour of control. Guardiola is a stickler for free spirits after all as noted by the way he restricted Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish following their respective arrivals from Leicester and Aston Villa. Doku, though, proved an exception to the rule. The 21-year-old ranks third for successful dribbles (51) of all City players since the start of last season, a metric led by man of the moment Phil Foden (72). For context, Doku has made 14 appearances over that period; Foden has made 54.
The decision to unleash Doku, and the subsequent success in doing so, may well have convinced Guardiola that he needs more free spirits in the squad. After all, a majority of opponents won't take games to City and the defending champions routinely need an alternative route to goal to break down staunch backlines. However Doku hasn't been freely availble to Guardiola for the duration of the Belgian's time at the club.
Injuries have restricted Doku's playing time to an extent and an additional ball carrier would undoubtedly benefit City. Savio is a superb fit in that regard. He prefers to hog the touchline to maintain the width for Girona and he should do similar for City. What's crucial too is that Savio is a versatile operator that can play anywhere across the frontline. He's played in support of Dovbyk and largely from the right during his time in Brazil, and this flexibility to his game is a quality that Guardiola can utilise.
In addition, Savio is a hard worker when out of the possession to the benefit of his side. Indeed, he is averaging a respectable 1.3 tackles per 90 in Spain's top tier this term and is being dribbled past just 0.4 times per 90. He doesn't go all guns blazing in pursuit of possession but he knows when to time his tackle to help win the ball back in dangerous areas and pressure opponents in key areas of the pitch.
That being said, while Guardiola has sacrificed control to maximise a winger of Doku's talent, the Belgium international, combined with his City teammates, do need to play their part in maintaining dominance over the opposition. Doku's pass success rate of 84.1% in the Premier League this season does require refinement but in turn; is better than that of Savio (82.8%), this coming despite the latter playing for a Girona side that does rank fourth for possession (56.7%) in La Liga this season.
As part of the City Football Group umbrella, it was only a matter of time before City turned their attention to Savio. Troyes' record signing won't even play a single minute for the French side but the Cityzens will be bringing in a winger capable of providing competition and cover for Doku. Guardiola's side are set become significantly stronger down the flanks with Savio's imminent arrival.
