City’s £40m Sensation Highlights Guardiola’s Commitment to Resolving the Grealish Dilemma
Manchester City is on the brink of finalizing the acquisition of Savio, reinforcing Pep Guardiola’s ongoing tactical evolution.
Guardiola is known for revolutionizing football tactics, from innovative goalkeepers to dynamic full-backs. His latest shift last season was a move from a control-oriented strategy to embracing a more chaotic style.
Jeremy Doku’s arrival on the left wing last season, often replacing Jack Grealish, brought a high-quality dribbler to City’s lineup, offering a more direct approach compared to Grealish’s possession-heavy style. Now, with the expected addition of winger Savio from sister clubs Troyes and Girona, Guardiola’s strategy becomes clearer.
At 20, Savio emerged as a standout player for Girona last season, drawing comparisons to Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. His impressive performances helped Girona secure a Champions League spot, significantly raising his profile.
Savio’s strengths lie in his prolific dribbling and his ability to excel in one-on-one situations, much like Doku. His playing style, focused on reaching the byline and creating opportunities for strikers, aligns perfectly with Erling Haaland’s goal-scoring prowess.
Last season, Savio attempted 194 dribbles, the highest in the league and 16 more than the next best, Nico Williams. He also led in successful dribbles past opponents, with 104 compared to Williams’ 86, underlining his exceptional skill.
After starting his career in Brazil, where he became Atletico Mineiro’s youngest scorer in the Copa Libertadores, Savio faced challenges in Europe with Troyes and PSV. However, his move to Girona propelled him into the spotlight, leading to his reported £40m valuation as City moves to sign him. Savio acknowledges his growth over the past year.
“I’ve improved physically and tactically, gaining confidence to take more risks with the ball, creating more opportunities for my team,” he told Flashscore in May. “Achieving significant minutes and great individual stats has increased my responsibility and expectations, but I will continue to work hard and strive for improvement.”
Savio will compete with a revitalized Grealish and the Premier League-proven Doku for a spot in City’s lineup. There’s a possibility that City might loan him out after pre-season assessments, given his areas for improvement.
Savio’s dribbling, crossing, pace, and creativity make him a valuable asset. While his defensive intelligence and physicality need development, these are minor issues that can be addressed with top-tier coaching.
His Girona coach, Michel, praised him, saying, “Since Vinicius’ arrival, I haven’t seen such impressive one-on-one talent.” This endorsement hints at Guardiola’s vision as he aims for a fifth consecutive Premier League title.
With an already strong squad, Savio’s addition could wreak havoc on defenses. If retained in the first team, Guardiola would once again be favoring a dynamic, unpredictable approach over a controlled one.
