Who is Sávio? Man City 'secure' deal for Barcelona target compared to Vinicius Jr

Girona have been the surprise package in European football this season with the Catalonian side leading La Liga ahead of Barcelona and Real Madrid. Girona enhanced their title credentials with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Celta Vigo at the weekend, keeping them at the top of the league table by a solitary point, following just one defeat in 22 league games to date. 

Remarkably, Girona only returned to the top-flight of Spanish football ahead of the 2022/23 season but smart recruitment has been the catalyst behind their incredible rise. Girona have only spent €37.25m across the last four transfer windows, which is significantly less than Real Madrid (€229.5m) and Barcelona (€201.4m). One of the jewels in their crown is Sávio, who joined last summer from Troyes on a loan deal until the end of the season and the winger has been a revelation.

11th highest market value rise of all teenagers in 2023

Sávio re-joined Troyes in the summer after a disappointing loan spell at PSV. The 19-year-old spent the full season on loan in the Netherlands but he only made eight appearances for the first-team, towards the start of the campaign, before dropping down to play with PSV’s U21s in the second tier. Sávio’s market value dropped by €1m to €5m during the second half of the season with PSV but it has soared incredibly since moving to Girona. The Brazilian’s valuation has increased by €25m since moving to the Spanish side and he had the 11th biggest market value increase of any teenager on the planet in 2023 - as illustrated by the graphic below.

Sávio earns Vinicius Jr comparison after La Liga excellence

Sávio has been integral to Girona’s success this season, providing six goals and seven assists in 24 appearances in all competitions. He’s played on the left-wing and he’s been lauded for his performances as explained by Transfermarkt’s Spanish expert Iván Fuente. “He is doing quite well,” Fuente said. "Sávio started better than he's doing now, but he's still one of Girona's main players. He is left-footed, very fast, he likes to dribble on the outside and put the ball in the box. Sávio that kind of player that when he has the ball you can feel that something is going to happen. Míchel, his coach, said ‘I know they're big words, but since the arrival of Vinicius I haven't seen a one-on-one talent as impressive as he is’. I think he could stay at Girona, if they play in European competition next season. It could be a good challenge for him and see how he develops on a big stage. If not, City's group will probably send him on loan to another team, (even off their business group) to see how he plays at another level with more pressure.”

Will Sávio join Manchester City?

Sávio will remain at Girona until the end of the season after confirmation from Ferran Soriano, CEO of the City Group. Soriano also suggested that the Brazilian could remain at Girona next season but he’s naturally been linked to Manchester City as Troyes are owned by the City Group. It’s been reported by Fabrizio Romano that City have agreed a deal to sign Sávio and he will move to England in the summer.

"I have the goal of playing for City, yes, I think that when I was hired my goal was always to get to City and I'm working towards that. But I have to keep my focus on Girona and do things well to get there. If one day I arrive at City, you can be sure that I did things well at Girona, as I am doing. I want to continue working here so that one day I can reach City, which is my reference point. I've never had any contact (with Guardiola), I only saw him up close. He hired Kayky, who was from Fluminense, Gabriel Jesus, so he seems to get along well with Brazilians. I’m letting things happen naturally so that, God willing, one day, he can train me."

How much is Sávio worth?

Sávio’s current market value of €30m will likely rise ahead of the summer, when he’s expected to complete a big money move from Troyes. There’s been reports in England that he could move to Man City for as little as €10m due to the City Group connections but there’s little substance to those rumours. As Transfermarkt’s Spanish expert Fuente stated previously, Sávio could remain at Girona to develop for another season as he’s not yet ready to command a starting berth at City. Barcelona have also registered an interest in the winger but City will have first refusal due to the multi-club system.