Pep Guardiola Praises Savinho Amid Transfer Links to Tottenham

Pep Guardiola praised Savinho and spoke about the winger’s future. The manager hopes Savinho will stay at Manchester City for many years but knows the decision will be the player’s. There have been transfer rumours, but he clarified that if Manchester City were to reach an agreement with another club, it would ultimately be Savinho’s decision whether he wants to stay or leave.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Tottenham Hotspur are pushing to add Savinho from Manchester City as they look to bolster their ranks with another strong attacking option. The winger is open to joining the club, and as per recent reports, he is keen on the idea of playing alongside Brazil international Richarlison for Spurs. City’s rivals, who are also battling it out for the Premier League title, see Savinho as an important add – although Manchester City do not want to lose him easily .

Guardiola has been open about how important Savinho is to the club and cited his versatility as a major factor in his success at the Etihad Stadium. The talent has shown consistency despite the experience around him, and the club wants to continue building upon their tactical flexibility with his presence in the squad. Most importantly, however, the head coach reiterated that Savinho will be allowed to make his own decision in a move that will impact the title race and beyond.

WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID?

“If a club wants the player, the player needs to accept it,” he explained.

“For example, the player wants to leave, we cannot do anything. One team comes and the player wants to go. He has a contract of course, but normally in football history, when someone wants to leave, he will leave. When they don’t want to leave or they want to stay, they will stay – as simple as that.”

IS SAVINHO STAYING WITH MAN CITY?

Savinho is liked by City’s staff and teammates, and is considered an important player for them, with Guardiola revealing the club has a contract for him to sign if they reach an agreement. However, the Brazil star has already been scouted by other top clubs, and with the winger’s name mentioned in transfer gossip, his teammates have had to stay patient. The club is open to considering selling Savinho to refresh their team .

“We want the players to be with us,” he said.

“Savi is so important for us, like Thijs (Van den Berg)… But again, I cannot control that sometimes you play football and the rumours are there. I think sometimes it is boring, but at the same time, it is part of the game. All the big clubs in the world have the information or they are looking at the players.”

“Normally, the players have to be focused on that, they are very good players. The future? I don’t know. I don’t know whether Savi will be 10 years here or not. I hope so, but you never know in football.”

WHAT IS NEXT FOR MANCHESTER CITY?

The Premier League is back this weekend, and City open their campaign against Wolves as they try to improve on last season’s 3rd place finish. tottenham open against newly-promoted Burnley, and are promising Savinho with an important role after the transfer of Son and the long term injury of James Maddison.