- Man City completed the signing of Savinho from sister club Troyes last week
- Savinho thrived at Girona last season as they had a strong season in LaLiga
- Guardiola expects Savinho to add more balance to City’s attack this season
Pep Guardiola enthusiastically claimed that the ‘devastating’ impact of Savinho’s dribbling ability will give Manchester City an extra dimension this season.
The Brazilian, who sealed a £33million move from sister club Troyes last week, is currently on holiday after the Copa America but his performances on loan at Girona last year have given City serious encouragement about the impact he can make.
Guardiola has moved towards more explosive wingers in recent years after Jeremy Doku joined last term and Savinho’s preference to operate on the right potentially offers more balance in attack.
‘The impact he did in Girona was absolutely amazing,’ Guardiola said. ‘I think Michel, the manager, has done an absolutely incredible job with him.
‘He can play on both sides, left-winger, right-winger, can even play in the middle. But we need [him] more especially on the wings. His one-against-one is devastating.’
Savinho joined Man City last week from parent club Troyes after a standout season on loan at Girona last year
Pep Guardiola expects Savinho to come in and make a big impact at City this season
Savinho is already playing for Brazil, and Guardiola feels he can add an extra dimension to City’s attack
Guardiola has cooled talk of City adding many more new faces to the squad, and talked up James McAtee remaining with the group after loan spells at Sheffield United.
But he is aware that there requires an injection of energy most summers and hopes Savinho – who scored 11 times as Girona qualified for the Champions League – will provide that.
‘To bring one or two new players to bring something fresh is necessary,’ Guardiola added. ‘It’s not necessary to put seven, eight players. You cannot, with modern financial issues, change six, seven players. It’s unsustainable, it’s impossible.
‘We have to be smart. We try to do, many players want to come here, but we didn’t get an agreement with clubs because they ask for a so, so high price. We didn’t do it. I have a long, long list.
‘I think we have a more longer list of players that we failed to bring here, than players that we brought here.
‘We cannot forget that Savinho is playing national team for Brazil. We don’t have many wingers that can play on both sides. He can use two positions. We say thank you to Girona, because without the job they have done with him there, especially the manager and all the players, it could not be possible to bring him here.’
