The 2025/2026 season is set to be a monumental campaign for Savinho to show why he should be one of the first names on Manchester City’s team sheet.
During his debut campaign at the Etihad Stadium, the Brazilian international impressed but he still has plenty of work to do to become an elite winger.
Pep Guardiola has always admired Savinho and even before his arrival, the Catalan boss claimed that he is “devastating” in one-v-one situations.
Savinho reveals he is enjoying playing under Guardiola and the 21-year-old will be fired up to hone his craft even further.
Rayan Ait-Nouri’s signing means Man City gem Savinho no longer has to play on the left-wing
Despite being able to do a job on both flanks, putting in a shift on the left-wing from time to time has exposed the fact that he is far from comfortable playing in such a role.
However, with Rayan Ait-Nouri signing for Manchester City this summer, Savinho should breathe a sigh of relief as it is unlikely that he will be asked to operate as a left-winger anytime soon.
Jeremy Doku called Ait-Nouri a “top player” and what sets the Algerian apart from other left-backs is that offensively, the dribbling, skills and crossing ability he possesses is akin to those of a seasoned wideman.
The former Wolves defender’s threat down the left flank was evident against Juventus as he set Doku’s goal up with a wonderful through ball and danced past Alberto Costa before whipping in the perfect cross from Bernardo Silva, which was subsequently saved by Michele Di Gregorio.
Savinho, on the other hand, is quite one-dimensional on the left flank as he uses his natural foot far too often and unless he can deliver a ball into the box, the wonderkid becomes predictable.
On the right-wing, however, Riyad Mahrez admitted Savinho reminds him of himself as he can comfortably go on the inside as well as the outside and whip dangerous balls into the box.
With Doku being a natural left-winger and Ait-Nouri being the perfect partner for Omar Marmoush as he allows the Egyptian to drift into central areas and operate as a left-sided inside forward, the former Troyes gem might only be tasked to hug the touchline on the opposite flank in the event of several key absences.
Pep Guardiola explains why Savinho can become an ‘extraordinary player’
Pep Guardiola has full faith in Savinho to become an “extraordinary player” if he betters his game in the final third, which could be possible with time and due to Ait-Nouri’s presence on the left flank.
Guardiola said: “Look, Savinho had an incredible, incredible season at Girona, was the best player by far and brought that team alongside his teammates, of course to play in the Champions League. Last season, started really well in the first part of the season, after, played a little less for my reasons, not because he was playing badly, it’s because sometimes, the concurrence, the competition between the squad provokes that.”
“But he’s a player with incredible potential, we cannot forget he’s so young. He needs to make the final third more decisive in aspects like the goal he has done in the last game, he has to do it more. But the last goal [against Juventus] was more complicated, more difficult to score than the previous ones, one against one with the ‘keeper that maybe last season he missed.”
The Manchester City boss concluded: “The moment he makes this step, in the natural way, it will come because he has incredible quality, individual quality, when it arrives for his commitment, for his target, ‘I want to do it, I want to improve that, I want to be decisive, I want to score goals, I want to make more assists’, he will become an extraordinary player because he can play on both sides, right and left, so fast, he understands tactically the movements he has to do, that’s why he can play with us so I’m really pleased, of course.”
