Tottenham's De Zerbi Era Begins with £85m Savio Signing
Tottenham have been warned: there can be no repeat of last season’s humiliation.
Gordon Strachan, who knows a thing or two about living under a permanently furious manager, is convinced Spurs will not flirt with relegation again under Roberto De Zerbi – especially after backing him with a blockbuster move for Savio.
Strachan sees shades of Sir Alex
Spurs staggered through the 2025/26 Premier League campaign and only clung on to their top-flight status on the final day, a year after lifting the Europa League. It was a collapse that stripped them of European football and shredded any sense of momentum.
Strachan, speaking to Betway, simply doesn’t see that happening again.
“I can’t see Spurs doing that again, I really can’t,” he said. “Not after spending that type of money, and not with the manager they’ve got, who's permanently angry - which is good.”
Then came the comparison that will raise eyebrows in north London and beyond.
“It's like Sir Alex, he was permanently angry, as long as he's [Roberto De Zerbi] got that drive to scare people into winning games of football and not getting beat.
“When I played with Sir Alex, it was not the fact that you had to win, you were just so scared of getting beat. So I think that's what De Zerbi does to these teams a little bit.”
Fear as a motivator. Spurs fans have seen plenty of fear recently – but the wrong kind. Strachan is adamant De Zerbi can flip that.
Savio arrives to ignite the attack
If the mood around the club needed a jolt, Savio has just provided it.
Tottenham have landed the Brazilian winger from Manchester City in a deal worth an initial £75 million, with a further £10m in add-ons. The fee, the profile, the timing – it all screams intent after the chaos of last season.
Supporters wasted no time in flooding the club’s social channels. One message captured the mood: “Welcome lad we've been waiting for you. Time to build a legacy here in Spurs and the Premier League.”
Another fan went bigger, tying together his rapid rise and the managers who have shaped him: “From shining at Girona to learning under Pep, and now cooked up by Roberto De Zerbi? Absolute masterclass signing. Savio is going to transform this attack entirely. Premier League isn't ready for this flair!”
This is exactly what Tottenham have lacked: electricity out wide, a player who can rip open a game on his own. De Zerbi believes Savio fits that brief perfectly.
Registered and ready for Charlton
The paperwork is done, the deadline met. Tottenham confirmed Savio’s signing in time to register him for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie against Charlton Athletic, beating the midday cut-off to include new faces.
He is available to feature against the Championship side, giving Spurs fans the chance of an early glimpse of their new £85m weapon.
Not every deal is moving as quickly. Talks continue between Spurs and Manchester City over Marmoush, but no agreement is in place yet and the clock is ticking on that front.
Lange: “On our radar for a while”
Inside the club, there is no sense this was a panic buy. Sporting director Johan Lange revealed how long Savio has been tracked.
“Savio is someone who has been on our radar for a while and I'm delighted that he is now a Tottenham Hotspur player,” Lange said.
“He has already shown his quality at the highest level, and we believe his ability, style and mentality will be a great fit for the squad we are building here.
“I know he will excite our supporters every time he gets on the ball and I'm looking forward to watching his development under Roberto's coaching.”
The message is clear: this is a cornerstone signing, not a short-term fix.
“One of the best managers in the world”
Savio himself sounds like a player who has picked his project carefully.
“It's taken a while but I'm very happy to be here,” he said after the deal was announced. “It's a wonderful opportunity at a brilliant club with one of the best managers in the world.
“As soon as I spoke to the Head Coach I knew I had to come. He told me he wants to help me reach the highest level, and I believe we can do that together, as a team.”
For a club still shaking off the trauma of almost going down, hearing a 22-year-old star talk about “the highest level” under De Zerbi is no small thing.
Back to ‘Savio’ and into Romero’s old number
There is symbolism in the details, too.
Savio will wear the No. 17 shirt at Tottenham, taking over the number vacated just 10 days ago when Cristian Romero left for Atletico Madrid. A defender out, an attacker in. A shift in emphasis, at least in terms of optics.
The Brazilian has also gone back to his roots with the name on his shirt. After using ‘Savio’ at Girona, he switched to ‘Savinho’ at Manchester City and when he broke into the Brazil national team. Now, at Spurs, he has returned to ‘Savio’.
New club, old name, fresh start.
De Zerbi’s kind of winger
If Strachan’s comparison to Sir Alex underlines De Zerbi’s edge, the head coach’s own words about Savio underline his vision.
“Sávio is a player who brings energy, imagination and quality in wide positions,” De Zerbi said. “He has the courage to attack defenders and the ability to change a game with his creativity.
“We’re very pleased to have him with us, and I’m looking forward to working with him, helping him continue to grow and seeing him bring his personality to the team.”
Energy. Imagination. Courage. All qualities Spurs were accused of lacking as they stumbled towards the trapdoor last season.
Now they have a manager Strachan likens to Sir Alex for his relentless fury, a £85m winger ready to attack full-backs on sight, and a fanbase desperate to believe the nightmare was a one-off.
If De Zerbi really can scare this squad into winning, Savio might just be the first sign that Tottenham are done living in fear.
