- The wide man was set to be eased into action but started Sunday's first game
- He impressed on the field before being taken off at half time due to an injury
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By Jack Gaughan
Published: | Updated:
On the side of a training pitch at the City Football Academy, Savinho stood next to his stepfather watching a Pep Guardiola session for the first time.
It was in July, just before Manchester City's pre-season tour of America. The 20-year-old was making a quick stop to sign his paperwork and greet a few people. With eyes on what was going on during a light workout for those not on holiday, Savinho was exclaiming how he'd never expected this. How it was a dream.
He'd been to the campus a few times before — a winger for sister club Troyes, on loan at another sister club Girona last season — and could use City's facilities to rehabilitate from injuries.
But this time felt a bit different. A £32million signing, taking Riyad Mahrez's old number. A sense of expectation around a Brazil international whose joy for the game is provoked by seeing fans off their seats. He owns those classic South American tricks, the trademark style and has been thrown straight in by Guardiola after an encouraging cameo during the Community Shield.
Although only lasting 45 minutes, a knock to the knee curtailing his afternoon, it was a Premier League debut that offered promise.
Savinho shone on his Manchester City debut after being included in the team from the start
he was set to be eased in, but started and had to be taken off at half time due to his own injury
Pep Guardiola's Manchester City side were comfortable in their 2-0 win over Chelsea on Sunday afternoon
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Showcasing how he takes people with him when galloping into space, the close control reminiscent of the man whose shirt he's taken, the weight of pass in the right areas when swapping flanks with Jeremy Doku. A couple of mistakes but he is allowed those. It was a shame that it ended so soon.
Savinho was set to be eased into action, yet Oscar Bobb — who was going to be handed the shirt to start the season — fractured his fibula so the new man was handed his chance. A quite spectacular rise saw him to this point. Twenty-one goal contributions at an average of one every 154 minutes for Girona last season woke Europe up to an obvious talent and it is credit to City's scouting in South America when, while impressing for Atletico Mineiro, they took a calculated risk.
The criticism levelled at them is Savinho never actually featured for Troyes. There was a miserable loan at PSV Eindhoven, when he struggled to acclimatise to a new continent. He then exploded at Girona under the guidance of Michel — and nobody saw it coming. His displays catapulted them into the La Liga title race.
'Before August, nobody knew a lot about him,' Girona's chief executive Ignasi Mas-Baga told Mail Sport earlier this year. 'Now they say, 'OK (but) you have Savinho'. We're very thankful but nobody has expected his performances.'
Around that time, City's sporting director Txiki Begiristain was becoming a regular at the Estadi Montilivi — and not just because it's up the road from Barcelona. They briefly debated if he was ready for Guardiola and within weeks, Savinho was asking Ederson and former defender Danilo for advice on all things City.
Savinho has started English lessons and understands much of the dialogue inside the City dressing room
He started English lessons and understands much of the dialogue inside the dressing room. Not quite as comfortable speaking it in front of the group but that will come.
He has former captain Fernandinho on call if required and, already married, is talking about raising 'English' children. So it sounds like he is in this for the long haul.
While that first session with Guardiola is a sign of how far he has come, Savinho used his post-Copa America break to reach for comforting normality. Not to the beach, but the family farm in Sao Mateus, an area of 130,000 people.
His grandparents were waiting for him. Up at 5am, milking the cows, riding the horses. Clearly, he's somebody with that get-up-and-go attitude. Guardiola will like that very much indeed
BrazilRiyad Mahrez
