Savinho was one of only two additions for Manchester City ahead of the 2024/25 season.
The Brazilian was brought in from Troyes, after a brilliant season on loan at Girona, with Manchester City paying a total fee of around £33 million.
Savinho has made a lively start to life at the Etihad Stadium.
He’s been able to feature quite heavily so far as a result of the untimely injury to Oscar Bobb just before the new Premier League season kicked off.
But Savinho has been bright. However, he is still yet to open his account for his new club and some City fans are starting to question Savinho’s finishing ability.
One man who’s been able to get a good look at Savinho is Kevin De Bruyne, who has now delivered his verdict on the Brazilian.
Kevin De Bruyne makes ‘anxious’ claim about Savinho but drops positive prediction
De Bruyne being injured has allowed him to watch on intently from the sidelines, and with Savinho operating out wide, the Belgian has been able to observe his teammate particularly closely.
Savinho has undoubtedly looked very impressive at times in terms of his footwork and creativity.
But fans are now expecting him to start scoring, but De Bruyne has suggested Savinho is currently a little anxious about getting that first goal. However, the maestro also feels he’s been really good, and that the floodgates will open once he does score.
He told TNT Sports Brasil: “He’s started really well. Obviously, there’s moments where it becomes a little more difficult when you’re not scoring [your first goal], maybe he gets a little anxious about that.
“But he seems relaxed about it and he’s done a good job. It’s not easy now in a moment where it gets a little more difficult for the team to help out.
“But especially in the beginning of the season, he’s doing really, really good. I don’t think he should be anxious about anything, he started really well, and we’ll try pick him up and help him score his first goal. Then we’ll see him score many, many more.”
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Savinho needs a full season to fully adapt
Savinho has been a decent signing for far. Had he scored a few goals, it would probably be widely accepted that City have made one of the signings of the summer.
At the moment, that’s probably the only thing that’s missing from his game.
We know he can be really creative, and he’s also starting to grasp that you need to be strong off the ball as well as on it. His work-rate is there.
| Savinho for Man City |
| Appearances – 16 |
| Minutes played – 1041 |
| Goals – 0 |
| Assists – 5 |
But he’s yet to score and ideally, that will change soon. Savinho has spoken about how he’s looked up to Riyad Mahrez, and he now needs to try and replicate the Algerian’s goalscoring ability.
Craig Burley recently suggested Savinho needs to up his game, and some fans will probably agree with that verdict at the moment, with Erling Haaland scoring all the goals for City.
It may well be that Savinho needs a full season under his belt before he reaches the next level. It’s not easy for young players coming to the Premier League.
But he can be fairly pleased with what he’s shown so far, and he’ll surely really appreciate the words of one of the best Premier League players of all time in De Bruyne.
