'Pace, ball carrying and one-against-one ability' - why Spurs want Savinho

[Getty Images] Savinho's output at Manchester City makes Tottenham's decision to invest heavily in him look curious at first glance. The Brazilian, who last October signed a contract extension to 2031 at City, has made 84 appearances for the club, scoring seven goals and providing 13 assists. In the Premier League, the winger has scored just twice over his two seasons at the Etihad. But those numbers tell only part of the story of a player who joined City from sister club Troyes for £30.8m in 2024. Savinho's reputation was built during a breakout 2023-24 campaign with Girona, where he was on loan from Troyes, when he became one of La Liga's most dangerous ball carriers. He featured in 37 league matches as Girona secured Champions League qualification for the first time, registering nine goals and eight assists across his various attacking roles. Savinho also led La Liga for: Successful take-ons (104) Progressive carries (181) Goal-creating actions (25) Expected assists (9.9) He also ranked second for passes into the penalty area and progressive carrying distance. Most of his best work came from the left. Girona used him there in 27 matches, during which he scored five goals and supplied six assists, although he also featured centrally and from the right. That versatility and directness could suit De Zerbi's approach. His teams often try to draw opponents forward in possession before exploiting the space that opens up, creating one-against-one situations for wide players. Savinho's acceleration and willingness to take defenders on make him well suited to those moments. From the left he can hold the width and attack the outside, while from the right he can move inside on to his stronger left foot and combine with team-mates. At Girona, much of his threat came from carrying the ball over distance and disrupting defensive shape, which could give Spurs a more direct route through compact defences and create openings for central forwards. Tottenham are therefore investing in the qualities Savinho showed so clearly at Girona: pace, ball carrying, one-against-one ability and chance creation from wide areas. At 22, those attributes help explain why Spurs are prepared to pay a huge sum despite his modest scoring return in Manchester.