Roberto De Zerbi has made his expectations for Savio crystal clear: two Premier League goals across two seasons at City isn't good enough, and he intends to fix it. "The best wingers in the world score 10-15 goals a season," the Spurs manager said. "He has the qualities. Maybe it's a habit and he has to get the habit."
That's a statement of intent, not a compliment. De Zerbi didn't sign the Brazilian for £85 million to admire his dribbling. He wants goals.
Marmoush hovering in the background
On whether a second City forward is coming — with Omar Marmoush repeatedly linked — De Zerbi was deliberately vague. "I don't know. It's a crazy market. We are working very well in the transfer market. I don't know if some player leaves or some people joins."
Which tells you roughly nothing, and probably everything. Marmoush was spotted in City training on Monday and named among the substitutes for their 2-1 win over Bournemouth on Sunday. A man in that position isn't going anywhere by accident.
If Marmoush does arrive alongside Savio, Spurs' attacking depth starts looking genuinely threatening. That's relevant to anyone pricing up top-four finishes — this squad is being assembled with real ambition, not filler signings.
The Xavi Simons factor
One underrated detail in all of this: De Zerbi credited Xavi Simons with helping convince Savio to make the move, leaning on their close friendship from their PSV days — Simons even appeared in Spurs' announcement video. "They are very close as friends," De Zerbi said. "Xavi I think in the future will become very big for the club."
Building a squad around a genuine friendship between two technically gifted players is either smart culture-building or a storyline that unravels badly. With De Zerbi running the sessions, the former seems more likely.
Sporting director Johan Lange called Savio "someone who has been on our radar for a while" after what he described as a lengthy negotiation. The price tag reflects that — £85 million is a serious commitment for a winger with two league goals to his name. De Zerbi's job now is making sure that number looks embarrassingly low by May.
