Arsenal rejected by stand-out La Liga star in favour of Manchester City dream | OneFootball

The dream of playing for Manchester City played a role in City Football Group securing one of La Liga’s now-standout talents ahead of Arsenal.

That name is Savinho – also known as Savio – who is currently playing on-loan at high-flying La Liga side Girona, and playing a significant role in their attacking successes so far this season.

The Brazilian teenager is currently embarking on this third loan spell after joining Ligue 1 side ESTAC Troyes from Atletico Mineiro in Brazil, after temporary spells with PSV and Jong PSV in the Netherlands.

Now, the ongoing spell in Spain is proving to be the player’s most fruitful in European football to date, finding himself second in the assist rankings this season with four to his name, accompanied by a further two goals for Girona.

Savio’s talents were not just spotted by the City Football Group however, with the winger now revealed that there was also interest from elsewhere in the Premier League prior to his decision to join Troyes in France.

Speaking during a recent interview with Spanish newspaper Sport, the on-loan winger at Girona revealed when discussing interest away from the City Football Group, “Yes. Arsenal wanted me and also the Brazilian Bragantino.”

When discussing the decision to join ESTAC Troyes – the French club owned by City Football Group – Savinho admitted that the dream of one day playing for Manchester City played a role in first moving elsewhere within the portfolio.

The 19-year-old explained, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness, “I knew that Troyes was the City Group and I thought that by working I could one day reach Manchester City. Of course, I will have to do very well here in Girona.”

Whether or not Savio achieves his dream of playing for Manchester City remains to be seen, however it is almost certain that officials from the reigning Premier League champions will be paying close attention to his ongoing campaign in Spain.

The ever-impressive Girona currently find themselves second in La Liga this season with 22 points to their name, sitting above reigning league champions FC Barcelona, and just two points behind the current leaders Real Madrid.

Girona and European qualification would be a huge success for the City Football Group as a whole, should the Catalan club achieve that feat this season, after the CFG first became financially involved in the organisation during the summer of 2017.