In recent Man City news, summer signing Savinho has drawn comparisons to former City star Riyad Mahrez after taking on the Algerian winger’s iconic number 26 shirt.
Savinho made his competitive debut for City after completing a £30.8 million transfer from French club Troyes earlier this summer. He was immediately placed in the starting lineup for City’s Premier League opener against Chelsea on Sunday.
Despite being substituted at halftime for Phil Foden with City leading 1-0, thanks to an early Erling Haaland goal, Savinho left a strong impression. City later secured their victory with a late goal from Mateo Kovacic.
During the first half, Savinho experienced a knee issue that led to his replacement. However, Pep Guardiola expressed optimism that the winger would be fit for the next match.
The club has since shared highlights of Savinho’s performance against Chelsea, showcasing moments where he troubled Marc Cucurella. The young Brazilian has inherited Mahrez’s number 26 shirt, and some of his on-pitch movements are already being likened to those of the former City favorite.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Mahrez reacted to the clip, captioning it with, “Wait a minute,” accompanied by a monocle and laughing emoji.
This has sparked further comparisons between the two players. “It’s like Mahrez has got a twin brother. Amazing,” Glenn Hoddle remarked on Optus Sport during the game. He added, “He’s not just skilled with his feet; his upper body movement is remarkable. That little body swerve—it’s like you’re watching Mahrez. That’s probably why Pep felt confident enough to not only include him in the squad but to start him in a high-stakes game at Stamford Bridge.”
Mahrez, who spent five successful years with City after joining from Leicester in 2018, made 236 appearances, scored 78 goals, and provided 56 assists. His time at the club saw him help City to four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three League Cups, and the Champions League before his departure to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli last summer.
