Breakthrough La Liga star verbally agrees to future Manchester City move

Girona star Savio has verbally agreed to a move to Manchester City in future, should the Premier League champions emerge as a seriously interested party in the player.

The 19-year-old wide forward is currently on loan at the La Liga high-flyers for the ongoing season, having made the move to Spain on a temporary agreement from fellow City Football Group side Troyes in the last summer market.

Savio’s move to European football was finalised and announced in 2022, with Atlético Mineiro confirming an agreement with the City Football Group over a transfer fee set at €6.5 million, with another €6 million in variables.

However, instead of being allocated to Manchester City immediately, Savio was sent to France to develop his game while Etihad Stadium bosses maintain a watching brief on the player during his rise in European football.

Speaking during a recent interview with Globo Esporte, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness, the rising Brazilian talent openly admitted his desire to agree to a Manchester City transfer in future, should the Premier League giants firm up their admiration for the player.

“Yes, yes,” Savio responded when asked whether he would be interested in joining the Etihad Stadium club. “I think that when I was signed by the City Group, I had the ultimate goal of arriving at Manchester City.”

He continued, “But as I said, each player will go through his own process, his own storm in football that he has to go through, which is normal. It’s something that’s bad but good at the same time, that in the future you’ll know why you went through it.”

Unfortunately for Manchester City fans hoping to see some movement on a potential deal taking place at this stage, Savio denied any such advancement on a move when quizzed on offers from the Etihad Stadium.

“To date, I’ve had no offers from Manchester City, no contact,” he clarified in the interview. “But I’m happy to be on the internet. Because it reaches me. People ask me on the internet too, they ask my family.

“But I’m focused on Girona. I want to achieve my goals here, personally and as a team. And that’s it, I’m focused here. The window is open, and in the middle of the year it will open too, so I’m focused here and I want to stay here.”

The current understanding is that Manchester City are continuing to assess the talents of Savio this summer, and regardless of whether they opt to integrate him into their own first-team, they are likely to want to acquire his signature this summer.

Across 22 La Liga appearances so far this season, Savio has contributed a commendable five goals and seven assists to drive Girona towards the top of the table and go head-to-head with Real Madrid in a title race.