Atletico Mineiro are under pressure to raise funds via player sales as Premier League giants Arsenal and Manchester City go head-to-head for wonderkid Savio, as reported by UOL.
Both City and Arsenal have spent the last few seasons scouring the Brazilian market for exciting young talent. And they’ve found it too.
Gabriel Martinelli, at just £7 million, looks like one of the best pound-for-pound signings in recent Premier League history. Pep Guardiola will be hoping we’re talking in similarly glowing terms about Kayky soon enough, another teenage winger gobbled up by one of England’s big fish.
Savio, or Savinho, is the next tasty morsal to get mouths watering.
Arsenal or City?
The 17-year-old’s agent admitted recently that Arsenal had shown an interest in an exciting, fleet-footed forward with ambitions of becoming the second-coming of Ronaldinho.
According to Fabrizio Romano, however, the first offer has arrived not from the Gunners but from Manchester City.
City have put forward £5.4 million, plus add-ons and a sell-on clause. It is believed that PSV Eindhoven are already planning to ask for Savio on loan, should the former Brazil U15 international join Kayky (below) at the Etihad.
Arsenal’s next Gabriel Martinelli?
It’s not certain whether Atletico Mineiro will accept around £5 million for their prized asset. What is certain, however, is that the reigning Brazilian champions are under some serious financial strain.
UOL claim that director Rodrigo Caetano must raise funds and fast. And the sales of players such as Savio look like the best route out of a monetary mess.
“It is no secret that Galo (Atletico Mineiro) only earned the status of national champions after receiving financial support from billionaire fans,” UOL writes.
“There were just over 400 million Brazilian dollars (£56m) injected into the club. (The debts) must be paid back via to the sale of players.”
The report adds that Atletico Mineiro are still around £20 million away from reaching their target. Savio’s exit will not be enough to remove the noose around the Galo’s neck but it will certainly loosen it.
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