Manchester City beat Atletico Madrid 3-1 in their final pre-season of the summer
Dani Martinez of Atletico Madrid competes for the ball with Savinho of Manchester City during the preseason friendly match
Savinho impressed in Manchester City's friendly win over Atletico Madrid
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Savinho produced one of those Savinho performances in the first half of Manchester City's friendly win over Atletico Madrid on Sunday.
The Brazil international was direct and dangerous in an electric first half, and on more than one occasion he beat his full back with ease and delivered dangerous balls into the box that Erling Haaland - had he been playing - would surely have lapped up. As it was, during those opening 45 minutes Omar Marmoush didn't display the predatory attacking instincts required to provide the finishing touch.
The Egyptian found his positioning after the break through to twice convert from low balls into the box. Those two assists came from Antoine Semenyo, who in the end was City's best player in the 3-1 success over the La Liga side.
But for periods in the opening half, Savinho was the main protagonist. All of which raises plenty of questions. We have been here before with the Brazilian, he can offer a high-level showing and then fail to follow it up, and he did fade after the interval in Seoul.
Yet Enzo Maresca is building a system that focuses on wingers and encourages them to drive at the opposition. Semenyo has been a standout player on the summer tour while Jeremy Doku looks perfect for the set-up when he returns from his post World Cup break. But Savinho too could thrive in the system. The question is does he want to and does Maresca want him to?
Tottenham are long-term suitors of the 22-year-old and remain keen on the £60million-rated winger. Savinho has indicated he would be interested in a move to the capital but has played a full part in City's summer tour and against Atletico offered a glimpse of what he can do if he finds that level on a consistent basis.
It remains to be seen whether a summer switch will materialise and it will ultimately boil down to Savinho's thinking and what Maresca believes. If the Italian sees something he likes in the wideman then selling him to a fellow Premier League club and then having to source a replacement seems futile.
City have been linked with Chelsea's Pedro Neto and the Blues have vowed that any players sold this summer will be replaced.
Yet there are only three weeks left in the transfer window and Savinho is one of several moving parts at the Etihad. It seemed certain he would leave but his display against Atletico has raised questions as to whether he has a part to play moving forward. It's another crucial decision facing Maresca ahead of the big kick-off.