Roberto De Zerbi demands goals and assists from Savio after his £85m move to Tottenham.
Tottenham Hotspur head coach Roberto De Zerbi has made his expectations crystal clear for marquee summer signing Sávio, insisting the Brazilian winger is in North London to produce direct end product. Speaking in a press conference shared by Chris Cowlin on X, the Italian manager forcefully addressed questions regarding Sávio’s previous goalscoring output during his time at Manchester City, where the 22-year-old managed just two goals across two seasons.
When pressed on Sávio’s modest goal tally in Manchester, De Zerbi offered a blunt and unequivocal response regarding the winger’s responsibilities in his tactical system:
“His Job is to assist and to score goals! We need goals!”
De Zerbi’s animated declaration underlines the expectation on Sávio to deliver immediate returns following his high-profile £85 million transfer from Manchester City. While the Brazilian international earned praise at previous clubs for his dynamic 1v1 dribbling, acceleration, and ability to unpick low blocks, his final-third efficiency has frequently come under scrutiny from pundits and supporters alike.
Solving Tottenham’s Frontline Goalscoring Needs
The urgency behind De Zerbi’s comments comes directly on the heels of Tottenham’s disappointing 3-0 opening day defeat against Brentford. Despite controlling nearly 60 percent of possession in that fixture, Spurs struggled to generate high-quality chances or apply clinical finishing in the penalty box.
With Tottenham’s hierarchy sanctioning significant financial backing this summer, De Zerbi views Sávio as a vital pillar in reshaping the squad’s frontline identity. By assigning him the number 17 shirt and integrating him immediately into the squad setup, the Italian manager expects the Brazilian to transition from a purely creative wide player into a reliable, high-volume goal threat.
As Tottenham prepare for their upcoming fixtures in the League Cup and Premier League, De Zerbi’s public challenge sets a high benchmark for Sávio. The winger will need to translate his technical ability into tangible goal contributions if Spurs are to build momentum and sustain a serious top-four push this season.
