Real Madrid News
18-year-old Brazilian prodigy dreams of playing alongside Rodrygo at Real Madrid
PSV’s on-loan prodigy Savio is the latest player to come out of the famed South American football wilderness.
The 18-year-old, who majorly plays as a right winger, crossed the seas in June 2022 to arrive on the European shores, joining Ligue 1 side Troyes for a reported €6.5 million, with another €6 million in add-ons.
Despite being a new face in rather unfamiliar territory, Savio has managed two assists in six games across all competitions while playing for Ruud van Nistelrooy’s PSV Eindhoven on loan. The key to his success has been PSV’s attitude towards the player.
The team from the Netherlands are corresponding to what exactly was promised to the 18-year-old upon his arrival. In the midst, Savio’s own hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed either.
In fact, as admitted by him, he is only trying to replicate the career of Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, with whom Savio wishes to share the field at Real Madrid. Speaking in an interview with the Dutch media Voetbal Primeur, he admitted that he wishes to play for Real Madrid one day.
“An example for me? Rodrygo’s career attracts me a lot,” admitted the 18-year-old as relayed by Diario AS.
“Playing with him one day at Real Madrid is a dream. But I haven’t gotten that far yet and I have to prove myself here first,” he added.
In all fairness, Savio and Rodrygo have several things in common. To begin with, both changed the Brasileirao for European football at the age of 18 and both of them share a similar style of play; an ability to play anywhere across the front three.
And while Rodrygo’s Real Madrid dream became a reality in 2019 itself, Savio has vouched to work his way up the ladder. He understands that playing for Real Madrid is no video game, and for that, he is willing to prove his worth across different circuits.
Real Madrid are looking towards a heavy splurge in the coming summer transfer window. After all, they do not even have another option given the sheer number of player departures already finalized.
Los Blancos have lost the services of Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio, Mariano Diaz, and Eden Hazard over the past week. While three of the four players predominantly featured on the bench, their presence in the squad gave Carlo Ancelotti’s side much-needed depth and a cushion of sorts.
The forward unit is, thus, the most prioritized department ahead of the transfer window. However, pieces are beginning to fall apart on other fronts and could potentially put the club in a difficult situation.
According to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio, Juventus are eyeing Lucas Vazquez and hope to sign him in the coming month. Contacts between the two parties have begun and the transfer fee discussed appears to be around the €6 million to €8 million ballpark given that he has just one year left on his contract.
The player, for his part, is willing to sign for the Italian giants given his relative lack of minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu. At 31 years of age, he understandably does not want to play a second-fiddle role.
Vasquez played part in 23 of Real Madrid’s 38 La Liga games last season, starting only on 12 occasions. Even in his few appearances, he averaged a mere 50 minutes per game.
The veteran completed the season with four goals and an assist to his name. Further, he averaged five defensive actions and a key pass in every game and feels hard done by his limited role.
Vazquez’s departure would place the club in a tricky situation as it would leave Real Madrid with only Dani Carvajal as a natural right-back option. Nacho Fernandez could, in theory, serve as the backup but a new signing for the position cannot be ruled out.
