“Manchester City Star has left Ethihad Stadium this afternoon the signing of Brazilian international and Girona Star Savinho
Having gone on loan at another sister club, Collin Millar of The Athletic said on X the method City used to recruit Savinho from a sister club he had never seen, may be seen as problematic in top football. The City Football Group comprises all three of the clubs.
For Troyes, Savinho was a €12.5 million (£10.5m/$13.6m) record signing. But he went immediately out on loan to PSV Eindhoven, instead of assisting the Ligue 1 team in climbing the French standings. Troyes was left behind, demoted in 2022–23. The Brazilian subsequently joined Girona on loan for 2023–24, helping impressively to get them into the Champions League by producing 19 goals and assists. Troyes, meantime, experienced consecutive demotions. He is now the target of a £33.7 million ($43.5 million) deal to Manchester City, the flagship club of CFG.
One of the most well-known multi-club models worldwide is the City Football Group Founded in 2013, it now consists of eleven members spread across four continents in addition to a few more “partner clubs” where the CFG does not have direct holdings. Savinho is not the first instance of a player hopping between CFG teams without playing for the side he chooses. From Melbourne City, Aaron Mooy signed for Manchester City in 2016; he was promptly loaned out and subsequently sold the next year. For three years following his arrival from New York City, Mix Diskerud was also on the books at Manchester City.
With a sixth straight Premier League championship under their belt, Manchester City enter 2024–25 hoping to continue their previously unheard-of supremacy in English football. But with Pep Guardiola out of contract next summer and a stated objective for the England national team, the conclusion of a wonderful chapter may be nearer than many would have first expected.
