Blues deal from farmers market for starlet inspired by Mahrez
MEN on Sunday|July 21, 2024
Savinho tells of great childhood and how he is fulfilling dreams with big move to City
SIMON BAJKOWSKI
Blues deal from farmers market for starlet inspired by Mahrez

MANCHESTER City stand accused of turning English football into a farmers' league so maybe it is only fitting their new signing spends his holidays milking cows.

In many ways, Savinho - signed this week from fellow City Football Group club Troyes for an initial £21m represents a familiar face even if the name is new. He arrived in Manchester promising the attacking, exciting football that Brazil is famed for and his skills on the wing are a throwback in the modern game.

He will take the No.26 shirt under Pep Guardiola in a nod to Riyad Mahrez, the Algerian winger who last wore that number who has been a source of inspiration for Savinho growing up. It will also feel like following in the footsteps of Gabriel Jesus, who came over from Palmeiras as a teenager and instantly made a big impact.

Step away from the pitch however and there is more to Savinho than first meets the eye. As the 20-year-old is not afraid to tell his friends: "Nobody will have a childhood like mine".

That childhood came in Sao Mateus, a municipality on the east cost of Brazil founded by Portuguese colonisers in the 16th century. There, Savinho grew up on the family farm riding horses and growing crops as he chipped in with whatever he could.

Esta historia es de la edición July 21, 2024 de MEN on Sunday.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición July 21, 2024 de MEN on Sunday.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE MEN ON SUNDAYVer todo
Pep admits: We could not handle Cherries
MEN on Sunday

Pep admits: We could not handle Cherries

PEP Guardiola said that City were not 'clean' enough to cope with Bournemouth as they suffered their first Premier League defeat for 11 months.

time-read
1 min  |
November 03, 2024
United chiefs told me it was now or never
MEN on Sunday

United chiefs told me it was now or never

New Reds coach says he asked to stay at Sporting Lisbon until the end of the season, but he was given Old Trafford ultimatum

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 03, 2024
Curzon boss Craig wants more magic moments in cup
MEN on Sunday

Curzon boss Craig wants more magic moments in cup

EVEN guiding his team to a shock victory over Mansfield would be unlikely to usurp Craig Mahon's favourite FA Cup memory.

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 03, 2024
Any encounter with wild nature is memorable in some way
MEN on Sunday

Any encounter with wild nature is memorable in some way

COMEDIAN AND FORMER STRICTLY WINNER BILL BAILEY TALKS TO PRUDENCE WADE ABOUT THE ANIMALS THAT HAVE SHAPED HIS LIFE

time-read
4 minutos  |
November 03, 2024
Drink-drive firefighter 'haunted by tragedies
MEN on Sunday

Drink-drive firefighter 'haunted by tragedies

Single mum who was almost three times limit is handed fine

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 03, 2024
Doubt over promised cash for North transport plans
MEN on Sunday

Doubt over promised cash for North transport plans

TWO major transport projects in the North of England have been thrown into doubt after Rachel Reeves failed to commit to funding pledges made by the previous Conservative government.

time-read
1 min  |
November 03, 2024
Law change could end out-of-area taxis issue
MEN on Sunday

Law change could end out-of-area taxis issue

TAXIS licensed by Wolverhampton council could be BANNED from working in Greater Manchester with a proposed law change.

time-read
1 min  |
November 03, 2024
How a quiet night in lab changed science
MEN on Sunday

How a quiet night in lab changed science

Miracle material created in city is 200 times stronger than steel

time-read
4 minutos  |
November 03, 2024
'As long as Barry can see pals at the pub, he'll be OK ra
MEN on Sunday

'As long as Barry can see pals at the pub, he'll be OK ra

Dad's devastating MND diagnosis

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 03, 2024
The chilly reception to exit of Iceland
MEN on Sunday

The chilly reception to exit of Iceland

How the closure of suburb's last cheap shop' symbolises a change that some residents would prefer hadn't happened

time-read
4 minutos  |
November 03, 2024