The winger was left out of City’s Community Shield squad as Tottenham transfer talks enter crucial stage.
Manchester City winger Savinho was noticeably left out of the matchday squad for the FA Community Shield fixture, in which Pep Guardiola’s side suffered a heavy three-nil defeat against Arsenal at the Millennium Stadium. The decision to omit the twenty-two-year-old Brazilian international came as a direct consequence of his explicit desire to finalize a summer move to Tottenham Hotspur.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on X, negotiations between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur are progressing on a daily basis, with both parties working through the final structural terms of the high-profile transfer deal. Savinho has made his intentions completely clear to the Etihad hierarchy, prioritizing a move to North London to secure guaranteed regular first-team football under manager Roberto De Zerbi.
Negotiation Dynamics and City’s Squad Dilemma
The absence of Savinho during City’s defeat highlighted the growing momentum behind Tottenham’s pursuit, which has emerged as one of the defining storylines of the summer transfer window. Spurs have reportedly submitted an official proposal valued in the region of eighty-five million pounds to test Manchester City’s resolve.
While personal terms between Savinho and Tottenham have been broadly agreed for some time, Manchester City executives have exercised caution before issuing a final approval. City manager Enzo Maresca and the club board are eager to secure a suitable replacement before allowing the talented winger to depart, especially following a disappointing three-nil loss in their first competitive outing of the campaign. However, Savinho’s decision to skip training sessions earlier in the week and his subsequent exclusion from the Community Shield squad demonstrate that his focus is already aligned with Tottenham Hotspur.
For Tottenham Hotspur, landing Savinho represents the crowning jewel in a massive summer spending spree orchestrated by newly appointed head coach Roberto De Zerbi. Having already overseen more than two hundred and thirty million pounds in squad reinforcement with arrivals such as Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Jan Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi, and Andrew Robertson, De Zerbi views Savinho as the essential engine for his attacking tactical setup.
🚨❌ Savinho, out of Manchester City squad today for Community Shield as he wants Tottenham move.
Negotiations continue with #THFC on daily basis. pic.twitter.com/lxKue7aZTH
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 16, 2026
The Italian coach values Savinho’s elite dribbling ability, explosive speed, and directness in one-on-one situations along the right flank. Interestingly, Tottenham’s transfer ambitions do not stop with the Brazilian, as the club also remains actively locked in talks for Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo and a central striker to build a completely restructured forward line.
As the summer transfer deadline approaches, daily dialogue between Tottenham and Manchester City continues in order to finalize the package. Savinho’s self-imposed exit from City’s matchday plans confirms that a transfer is entering its final critical phase. Tottenham supporters can expect rapid progress over the coming days as all parties work toward an official announcement, bringing an end to one of the most eagerly anticipated transfer sagas of the summer.