- Man City completed the arrival of Savinho from sister club Troyes last week
- Savinho flourished last season at Girona, where they had a strong season in LaLiga
- Guardiola expects Savinho to bring more balance to City’s attack this season
Pep Guardiola has enthusiastically claimed that the “devastating” impact of Savinho’s dribbling ability will give Manchester City an extra dimension this season.
The Brazilian, who left sister club Troyes for £33million last week, is currently on holiday after the Copa America, but his performances on loan at Girona last year have given City plenty of hope over the impact he can have.
Guardiola has turned more to explosive wingers in recent years after Jeremy Doku joined the team last season, while Savinho’s preference for a right-of-field position may offer more balance in attack.
“The impact he had at Girona was absolutely astonishing,” Guardiola said. “I think Michel, the manager, did an absolutely incredible job with him.
‘He can play on both sides, left wing, right wing, can even play in the middle. But we have [him] especially on the wings. His one-on-ones are devastating.’
Savinho joined Man City last week from parent club Troyes after an excellent season on loan at Girona last year
Pep Guardiola expects Savinho to make a big impact at City this season
Savinho already plays for Brazil and Guardiola believes he can add an extra dimension to City’s attack
Guardiola has played down rumours that City would add many more new players to their squad and has advocated for James McAtee to remain with the group after a loan spell at Sheffield United.
But he is aware that most summers require an injection of energy and hopes Savinho – who scored 11 times as Girona qualified for the Champions League – will provide that.
“It is necessary to bring one or two new players to bring something fresh,” Guardiola added. “It is not necessary to bring seven, eight players. You cannot, with the current financial problems, replace six, seven players. It is unsustainable, it is impossible.
“We have to be smart. We try, many players want to come here, but we couldn’t get an agreement with clubs because they asked for such a high price. We didn’t do it. I have a long, long list.
‘I think we have a longer list of players we didn’t bring here than we do of players we did bring here.
“We must not forget that Savinho plays for the Brazilian national team. We do not have many wingers who can play on both sides. He can play in two positions. We thank Girona, because without the work they have done with him there, especially the manager and all the players, it would not have been possible to bring him here.”
