7 hours ago
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Manchester City forward Savinho failed to impress of the bench again at the weekend and needs to show more after an eye-opening summer
Tottenham's transfer interest in Savinho this summer arrived suddenly and unexpectedly. The winger had just returned home with his Manchester City teammates from their only pre-season friendly and were less than a week away from their Premier League opener when the news dropped that Savinho could be off; Tottenham wanted him and, as ever, City would be open to a deal at the right price.
That felt like a surprise to supporters, with the verdict very much still out after a first season at the club where he hadn't really taken off but hadn't arrived into the best situation either. The potential was clear, and had been in evidence again during the Club World Cup where he was picked to play more than anyone else, but the goal returns weren't quite there yet.
More eyebrows were raised at Savinho's actions during the few weeks where he was potentially on the move. He suddenly came down with an injury that wiped him out for the entirety of the transfer window, and posting images on social media with packed suitcases hardly gave the impression that he wanted to stay at the Etihad.
Ultimately, City's £70m valuation wasn't met and a decision was made by City before the window shut to keep Savinho. They then went one further and handed him a six-year deal that ties him to the Etihad until 2031. If Savinho spoke on that announcement of the areas of his game he still felt needed to improve, sporting director Hugo Viana went above and beyond what was necessary.
“He has so many excellent attributes. His potential really is limitless. He has superb natural ability, works incredibly hard day in, day out, and he is humble."
Two months on from that, there is grumbling on pretty much every matchday about how necessary it was first to reject Tottenham's interest and secondly to give him a new contract second in length only to Erling Haaland. Many supporters who weren't too impressed with Savinho during the approach from Spurs are yet to be won over by his performances this season.
With his only goal so far coming in the Carabao Cup game at League One side Huddersfield, it isn't hard to understand why. Too many performances have flattered to deceive and the 21-year-old has failed to build on his excellent display at Villarreal last month.
There is some mitigation in the fact that he appears better and more productive on the right wing but has predominantly been used on the left, and he also has age on his side with the added caveat that the second season is often the charm under Guardiola. However, for some of his growing critics it isn't even about output; in a number of his appearances off the bench this season, his application has been questioned.
As Jeremy Doku and others rise to meet their challenges, Savinho must do more to earn appreciation again and justify his new deal. And having taken over from Txiki Begiristain this summer - a sporting director recently named the best in the world - Viana has an early test of his judgment in both blocking a Savinho exit and then rewarding him with a bumper new deal.
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