Tottenham Hotspur fans will be very excited by what Roberto De Zerbi has said about Savio following the Lilywhites’ signing of the Brazilian.
Spurs have paid £85m to bring Savio through the door, and that fee has certainly raised some eyebrows, given the 22-year-old struggled for goals at Manchester City.
The pacy wide-man had admitted that Roberto De Zerbi was crucial in attracting him to Tottenham, describing the Italian as one of the best in the world.
It appears, based on the Spurs boss’ latest comments, that the feeling is mutual between the pair.
Roberto De Zerbi lauds Tottenham’s newest signing Savio for key attribute
De Zerbi has now admitted that the Lilywhites’ latest addition is one of the best players going when it comes to one-v-one situations, particularly for someone so young.
However, the 46-year-old conceded that Savio has to improve in front of goal if he wants to become one of the best wingers in world football.
De Zerbi told Football.London: “In terms of one-vs-one, he’s one of the best players, especially because he’s only 22. He can play on the right, on the left. I spoke with him before he went to City. He’s a big player for us, a big signing.
“He is so good at one-vs-ones, so good in creating chances to score, now to be complete he has to score. If you analyse the other best wingers in the world, many of them score 10-15 goals per season. He has the qualities.”
De Zerbi challenges Savio to take responsibility at Spurs
The Brazilian was a peripheral figure for the majority of his two campaigns at the Etihad Stadium, being predominantly restricted to cameos off the bench.
De Zerbi has now suggested that he will give Savio all the support he needs to fulfil his potential, and challenged the 22-year-old to take on more responsibility to maximise his attributes.
The Tottenham boss added about the former Man City man: “He must become one of the key players. The improvement is to become better, take more responsibility. Not just Savio, but also the other players.
“In a football career, you arrive one day [at a point where] you have to show if you are good enough, and for him, he’s arrived at that moment, and we are here to help him, hug him, give all the instructions, all the information he needs. Then he has to put his face on the pitch like the other players.
“I was a player, I played in the same position as Savio. We have to be good, so good, to complete his qualities, because if we can, we find a top, top player.”