Controversy Over Man City’s Signing of Savio: He Never Played for Troyes, Deal Questioned as a Left-Hand-to-Right-Hand Transfer

On July 18, Premier League giants Manchester City announced the signing of winger Savio from French club Troyes. According to reports by French sports outlet RMC Sport, this move has caused significant controversy in the football world.

Savio’s arrival is seen as an internal reshuffling of resources within Manchester City, with the club’s official website confirming that he signed a contract until June 2029. Reports indicate that Manchester City paid a base transfer fee of €25 million to the French club for the Brazilian player, with potential additional fees of up to €15 million.

The transfer has been particularly controversial due to the perception that Manchester City paid too little for Savio, especially considering his potential. While on loan at Girona during the 2023/24 season, Savio shone brightly, scoring 11 goals and providing 10 assists, helping the team qualify for the Champions League for the first time.

Fans of Troyes had hoped that Savio’s transfer would bring in higher revenues for the club to alleviate financial pressures, but Manchester City completed the deal at what they consider to be a relatively low price.

According to RMC Sport, this situation is linked to the fact that Troyes, Girona, and Manchester City are all part of the City Football Group (CFG). The CFG owners from the UAE view Troyes as a “satellite club” of Manchester City, despite the French team’s decline in performance and relegation to the third tier of French football.

It is worth noting that Savio never played for Troyes; he was always loaned out to other clubs.

This transfer maneuver has left some neutral fans dissatisfied, as they fear that Manchester City might be manipulating the transfer market. Transfers like Savio’s, described as “left-hand-to-right-hand,” could potentially undermine the competitive balance in European football.