The 20-year-old joins after impressing at La Liga surprise package Girona in 2023/24.
Here are 10 things you may or may not know about our new winger…
Farm life
Born in Sao Mateus, a small municipality on the east coast of Brazil, Savinho wasn’t always set for the stardom of international football.
In fact, his early years were spent on his family’s farm. It’s a time he remembers fondly.
“At home we have a cow farm and I always lived there. We make milk and also put on rodeo shows. It’s very nice. I had always lived on the farm, enjoying a very quiet life, then suddenly I moved to Atletico Mineiro.
“When I was 10 years old they came looking for me and told me they wanted me. First I went on my own and then my mother came and stayed with me until I was 18.”
Quick start
Our new man made his senior debut in the Brazilian Serie A for first club Atletico Mineiro when just 16.
He was a late substitute in a 4-3 victory over Atletico Clube Goianiense on 20 September 2020, making a further seven appearances between then and the end of the campaign the next February.
His first goal came in May 2022, when he netted against Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle in the Copa Libertadores, making his mark on South America’s elite club competition just a month on from his 18th birthday.
Professionalism
There’s no doubting Savinho’s focus when it comes to getting the best out of himself.
Junior Chavare, one of the Atletico Mineiro cohort credited with discovering and nurturing Savio’s talent early on, said: “He is professional, with an excellent mind. He has everything it takes to succeed abroad, to play in the most important clubs in the world and to be a star of South America.”
Youth international
Savinho’s start in international football could hardly have been more impressive.
He was one of the stars of Brazil’s team that won the 2019 U15 South American Championship, scoring four goals.
After that he scored four goals in five games for the U16 side before three appearances for the U18 team and seven for the U20 team, including scoring in the U20 World Cup in 2023.
All of that experience set him up perfectly to make his mark on the senior side when he was called up by Dorival Junior in March 2024.
He made his senior debut against England at Wembley and already has seven caps and a goal to his name after being part of their Copa America campaign this summer.
Mahrez admiration
Our new man is particularly fond of a former City star and Premier League legend.
A left-footed winger who loves to play on the right and cut inside, it’s no wonder that Savio takes a lot of inspiration from Riyad Mahrez’s game.
The Brazilian has even selected the No.26 at City because it’s what our former Algerian played in on his way to 11 major honours in sky blue.
Dribble king
As just mentioned, Savinho loves to play on the right and cut inside. However, he’s equally as capable on the left wing, beating a man and digging out crosses for team-mates.
Just a quick glance at La Liga’s stats for 2023/24, where Savio so impressed for Girona, tells you everything you need to know about his style of play.
He completed 104 dribbles across the season, a whopping 18 more than anyone else in the division. That man in second was Nico Williams, who has lit up Euro 2024 with his direct running.
His boss at Girona, Michel Sanchez, had this to say on his skill with the ball at his feet: “I know they are big words, but since the emergence of Vinicius I don’t think I have seen a one-on-one talent as destabilising as him.”
Savinho
Born Sávio Moreira de Oliveira, our new man wears Savinho on the back of his shirt in club football.
The addition of the ‘inho’ to his name roughly translates to an affectionate way of saying ‘little’.
Mixing it up
Savinho will take the No.26 for City, which is the first time in his senior career he has played with that number on his back.
The winger wore 33 for PSV Eindhoven and Atletico Mineiro before switching to 16 in the season just passed with Girona.
His early days for Brazil have seen him don the No.20 shirt.
Here’s hoping this new number brings him plenty of luck!
Team of the Season
Girona had an exceptional 2023/24, earning 81 points from 38 games and sealing Champions League football for the first time in their history.
There was no doubt as to Savinho’s influence on that with a haul of nine goals and 10 assists.
That form saw him named in the La Liga Team of the Season, alongside three other Girona players including former City man Aleix Garcia.
Brazilian favourites
As a youngster growing up in Brazil, there’s no shortage of incredible footballers to idolise.
The five-time World Cup winners have produced many of the greatest talents ever to play the game.
Savinho has taken inspiration from two of the best in the 21st century, as well as one currently plying his trade at another European giant.
“Ronaldinho was crazily good, he was a very talented player with the ball. Ronaldo Nazario too, although he was more of a scorer. My idol in football history is Real Madrid’s Rodrygo,” he said to La Liga World in February.
