Manchester City are facing mounting criticism from their own supporters after refusing to part ways with Savinho in the summer, despite strong interest from Tottenham Hotspur.
During the last transfer window, Tottenham made it clear they wanted to bring the young Brazilian to North London.
Savinho, aware that opportunities under Pep Guardiola would be limited, was understood to be open to the switch and believed Thomas Frank’s system would grant him more regular football.
Tottenham submitted £60m offer for Savinho — roughly €70m at the time — a bid they hoped would test City’s resolve.
But senior figures at the Etihad quickly dismissed the proposal, insisting the winger was not for sale. Instead, they pushed through a new six-year deal, signalling long-term faith in the 21-year-old.
City’s confidence in the player has yet to be justified on the pitch.
Savinho has appeared 15 times in all competitions this campaign, but his only goal arrived in September during a routine League Cup win against Huddersfield Town.
Each outing since has increased scrutiny, particularly among a fanbase that had been excited by his early promise but is now showing signs of frustration.
Those frustrations reached a new peak on Tuesday evening. Guardiola fielded an entirely rotated XI for the Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen, giving Savinho a rare starting opportunity on a major European stage.
What followed, however, did little to strengthen his case for more minutes.
City were beaten 2–0 at home, a result that surprised even Guardiola, and Savinho’s display became a focal point of the post-match reaction.
Although he frequently attempted to take on his defender — and looked marginally sharper than fellow winger Oscar Bobb — his contributions fell apart in crucial moments.
His final balls were wayward, his deliveries either looping too high or failing to clear the first defender, and his overall decision-making repeatedly cut attacks short.
The low point came late in the game. Spotting space on the right, Savinho drove forward on the counter, a rare moment where City seemed poised to break through.
Yet instead of maintaining the move, he turned back into pressure and lost his footing, surrendering possession.
The groans at the Etihad were instant; in some sections, fans even rose from their seats and began heading for the exits.
That reaction has since spilled online, illustrating the widening gap between City’s internal belief in Savinho and the supporters’ current patience levels.
As the evening wore on, social media became a surge of frustration, particularly for the action of City management after Tottenham submitted £60m offer for Savinho last summer.
On Reddit, one City fan did not hold back: ‘I never want to see Savinho wear a City shirt ever again after today’s performance. Just send him to Tottenham already.’
Another supporter echoed the sentiment more bluntly: ‘Whoever blocked that Tottenham transfer needs to be sacked.’
Reports at the time suggested CEO Ferran Soriano was the senior figure most determined to keep the Brazilian.
This led one user to add: ‘That higher up (Soriano allegedly) who blocked his transfer needs to answer for themselves publicly.’
Some fans expressed sympathy but still found it difficult to defend the winger’s display.
‘It was genuinely painful to watch today. Is he just low on confidence or just s*?’** one asked. Others went further still, labelling Savinho a ‘fraud’ — a word that quickly gained traction across fan threads after the defeat.
For Guardiola, the dilemma is becoming increasingly clear. Savinho’s limited impact on the right flank leaves City overly dependent on Jérémy Doku, whose strong performances have made him the undisputed first choice on the left.
The expectation within the club had been that Savinho would offer meaningful competition across both wings, but the gap in influence is widening rather than narrowing.
If the Brazilian continues to struggle, the club may be forced into the market sooner than anticipated.
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Guardiola has historically avoided making unnecessary mid-season signings, but the current situation may reshape those plans.
A new wide option could arrive in January to offer more balance, particularly with City targeting silverware on multiple fronts.
Tottenham, meanwhile, have shifted their focus. Although Savinho was once high on their attacking shortlist, Spurs are now understood to be prioritising Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo heading into the winter window.
After Tottenham submitted £60m offer for Savinho but got their offer rejected, their interest in the player has cooled.
City, then, face a crossroads. They chose to keep Savinho when a substantial fee was on the table, a decision that now appears to be under the microscope.
As pressure mounts, Guardiola and his staff will need to decide whether to persist with the winger’s development or accept that a January reshuffle may be necessary.