By Sam McGuire
The reigning Premier League champions don’t shy away from spending big on players in order to arm Pep Guardiola with individuals to suit the demands of his system.
For a while, Ederson was the most expensive goalkeeper in the world. Joško Gvardiol is the most expensive defender in world football. Jack Grealish was the first English player to move for £100million when he swapped Villa Park for the Etihad. When Riyad Mahrez moved to Manchester City, he was the most expensive African player in history.
They’ll pick up some value-for-money signings along the way, like Kevin De Bruyne for £50million and Bernardo Silva for £40million, but generally speaking, City don’t do things on the cheap.
Yet the signing of Savinho in the summer from sister club Troyes for £30million looks like a brilliant piece of business.
He’s been one of the bargains of the season.
The Brazilian impressed while on loan at Girona and was linked with a number of clubs before City flexed their muscle to bring the Brazil international to the club.
It was viewed as a deal with potential, though few thought the winger had the ability to move the needle for Guardiola’s side just yet. Here we are in April though and the 20-year-old leads the way for Manchester City for assists with eight.
The versatile attacker had made quite an impression since the switch to the Etihad.
Across his 1,657 minutes in the Premier League this term, Savinho has nine goal involvements. Only Erling Haaland has more for the Citizens this term. The 13-cap international ranks third for Expected Goals with 4.8. Only Phil Foden (5.1) and Haaland (20.9), of course, have higher. The fact the No. 26 has just one goal this term is tied to bad luck rather than bad finishing. He has an Expected Goals on Target total of 5.17. This shows he’s adding value to his efforts, and he was already getting into decent positions.
As evidenced by his shots on target map, he’s hitting the corners. He should have more goals. If he keeps on finishing like this, he will end up with more goals.
Despite his misfortune in front of goal, he’s still been a genuine threat for City. With eight assists, he’s managed double that of Silva and Jérémy Doku. He’s carved out the most chances for Guardiola’s side (43) and ranks first for big chances created (11). Only Haaland, again, has a higher FotMob average rating, with Savinho averaging 7.43 this term compared to the Norweigians 7.51.
The truth is, if City had been performing at their usual levels, Savinho would be viewed entirely differently. Their struggles as a team have impacted how he’s seen as a signing.
Outside of Haaland, he’s been City’s best player this season. For a bit more context here, only the great Kevin de Bruyne (0.35) can better Savinho’s Expected Assist per 90 average of 0.32.
The young winger really has been a dual threat. He’s a goal threat and a creative threat, and he’s doing all of this in his debut season in England as part of a struggling Man City team. Quite remarkable, really. Famously, you don’t usually see the best of a player under the Catalan-born tactician until their second season.
On two occasions this term, Guardiola has singled him out for praise.
After the game against Club Brugge, he said: “We go forward. The first half was so dynamic but we missed the spark. Savinho help us like all the season when he play there. He was unbelievable. He changed the game and after five or ten minutes had won two or three corners. Our crowd reacted and we had the chances.”
Following on from the 4-1 win over West Ham in early January, he said: “The second goal at Leicester and the second goal today. He has a lot to improve, he is not aggressive enough without the ball, but right now he has something special to help the team. His goal was lucky, but the two assists were brilliant. I am so happy for him, and he deserves to play.”
The scary thing is, Savinho is only going to improve. City will improve as a team, Haaland will return from injury, weak areas will be reinforced and they’ll go again. Key to their title challenge next season could be the Brazilian attacker. He doesn’t have to do anything differently either. He just needs to keep on doing what he’s doing now.
City have spent huge money but their best player this season has arguably been a £30million signing from Troyes. A bargain buy, in the grand scheme of things. Talk about changing the narrative for a team.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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