The transfer window might be closed, but Manchester City have managed to secure an acquisition in time for next season as they have reportedly agreed a deal to bring La Liga star Savinho to the club in a few months’ time — but, technically, he’s already on the books at the City Football Group.
For anyone unaware of the City Football Group (CFG) structure, the Abu Dhabi United Group run the football-based holding company, which in turn operates 13 different clubs around the world, including Man City, Girona, New York City FC, Troyes AC and Palermo, just to name a few.
All that being said, Sávio – a.k.a. Savinho – who is currently on loan from the aforementioned French team Troyes, has lit up the Spanish league ever since he joined Girona back in 2022, of which the CFG currently own 47%.
With five goals and seven assists to his name and shining as one of the key players in the club’s remarkable title charge this season, having finished sixth in Spain’s second tier just a short while ago in 21/22 and only just managing promotion through the playoffs, City are now set to bring him to the Etihad.
🚨🔵 Manchester City will complete Savio deal by the end of February as documents are already being prepared between all parties.
Savinho will be part of City first team from July and he will start the pre-season under Pep Guardiola.
Since all three clubs are owned by the CFG and the overarching private equity company, very little money is likely to change hands.
While Blues will rightly be excited about the eventual arrival of the 19-year-old Brazilian winger, who claims he had lucrative offers from multiple clubs but refused as he knew “one day [he] would play for City”, football fans elsewhere are wondering if this is all kosher.
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As The Athletic‘s Nick Miller shared in a post via X: “A classic bit of multi-club nimble footwork this. Savinho was signed by City Football Group’s Troyes – their record signing, in fact – but has never played for them, was loaned immediately to City Football Group’s Girona, and is now being sold to City Football Group’s Manchester City.”
One commenter said, “This has to be illegal, there’s no way this is possible”, while another, particularly sarcastic remark read: “These negotiations must‘ve been incredibly difficult.” Given all three clubs are affiliated, any money exchanged will go back into virtually the same pot.
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The fact is, no matter how much you want to question how ‘fair’ moves like this are, it’s considered above board and is by no means the first. Former City fullback Angeliño joined in 2015 and was immediately loaned out to New York FC and Girona before eventually making just six appearances for his parent club in two years and being ultimately moved on.
Football regulators do not regulate, so clubs turn into pawns of ownership groups. Maybe City Football Group will eventually make Troyes successful. Maybe they won't. Either way, fans are entirely powerless and must accept their club is now just an extension of a business model.
Chelsea have been accused of similarly monopolising young talent for many years; Watford and Udinese have all used similar player-swapping methods too alongside the likes of the Red Bull football teams.
Jack Harrison’s case was similar only in reverse; he joined New York through their youth programme and was then officially sold to City in 2018 without playing a single game for them in three seasons after being sent straight to Middlesborough and then successive spells at Leeds United before joining them on a permanent deal.
As Miller went on to add, he wasn’t “even suggesting there’s anything wrong with this per se. Just that this is the reality of being in a multi-club group: the smaller teams are no longer independent entities whose success is the ultimate priority – just vessels through which the ‘parent’ club funnels things”.
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However, as many others online have noted, the implications this has on said smaller teams like Troyes could prove to be damning, especially when you take into account they were relegated from Ligue 1 last season and could potentially even slip into the French third division if their form continues.
City might be getting yet another extremely promising attacking squad member when Savinho joins in the summer — with the deal supposedly set to be complete by the end of this month — but he will remain with Girona for the rest of the season as they look to win the league for the first time in their history.
Meanwhile, Troyes, of whom City are still the majority shareholder, could go down yet again whilst watching their most expensive player ever move on without ever even pulling on the shirt.
Oldham Athletic’s next game postponed amid red weather warnings
Danny Jones
Oldham Athletic FC’s next game has been postponed amid red weather warnings, with a frozen pitch having already set in.
We suspect they won’t be the only ones either…
Oldham Athletic were set to take on Notts County FC at home this weekend, with the upcoming fixture set for a 3pm kick-off on Saturday, 10 January, but the state of the Boundary Park stadium’s playing surface has already been declared unfit for use.
Informing the fans of the unfortunate decision, the rescheduled date and time for the match remain yet to be confirmed.
Saturday's home fixture against Notts County has been postponed due to a frozen pitch. #oafc
Addressing supporters online, OAFC wrote: “An inspection took place on Thursday afternoon with the pitch frozen following persistent freezing temperatures since our last home game on New Year’s Day and further adverse weather forecast.
“The inspection was called due to persistent freezing temperatures and in anticipation of further adverse weather between now and kick-off. Tickets will remain valid for the rearranged date, and refunds can be claimed after the new date is confirmed.”
As for Notts County, they have also updated their fans on social media.
They have assured that “tickets purchased for this fixture will [also] be valid for the rearranged date” and that “supporters who require a refund will be able to do so after the date for the rearranged fixture is announced.”
Postponement comes amid parts of Oldham, Greater Manchester and other areas across the country being hit with severe weather warnings, which have now been upgraded from an initial yellow rating.
2026’s first named storm, the weather event dubbed by Goretti by the French meteorological service, is set to bring further frosty conditions and blustery winds to us Brits.
The UK received its first snowfall of the year earlier this month, but this next pattern of cold air is set to see even more arrive, with the forecast potentially running into next week.
As for the Latics, the 15th-placed League Two team will have to wait until their ground thaws out to try and make up ground between them and the play-off spots.
Worth keeping an eye on the Met Office if you were planning a trip to the footy over the next few days.
Club de Padel to close current Manchester location to make way for more Deansgate Square skyscrapers
Daisy Jackson
Club de Padel, the first padel club to open in Manchester, will be relocating from its Deansgate Square home.
The wildly popular sports club will close next week, as landowners Renaker begin the next phase of development of the skyscraper district.
Club de Padel is keeping its new location under wraps for now – but will be going out from its current Manchester home with a bang.
The club, which welcomed more than 100,000 people in the first year alone, will be offering free padel for all before it closes at Deansgate Square.
Club de Padel launched back in 2023, with four competition-grade courts, and has since added a Finnish sauna experience with Good Sauna, launched a best-selling clothing range with UN:IK, plus become the home for Manchester’s most popular run club with MADE Running.
As well as that, the club has been donating free courts and coaching during the school holidays to local children’s charity Wood Street Mission, and hosting events with the likes of adidas, REFY and Blank Street Coffee.
It’s been one of the city’s top sporting success stories, attracting attention from the likes of The Sunday Times, The Guardian, Hypebae and the BBC.
But now Club de Padel will be leaving its current home ahead of Renaker’s expansion of its luxury skyscraper district.
Club de Padel ManchesterClub de Padel is at the foot of the Deansgate Square towers
As for that new top-secret location opening later this year – they’re promising an ‘indoor and outdoor space in an incredible location, featuring an expanded padel experience, high-end wellness and social spaces, and a year-round programme of events’.
Club de Padel founders said in a statement today: “We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve built here in Manchester — bringing padel to the city centre for the first time and introducing tens of thousands of people to the sport during our time on Deansgate.
“But this site was never meant to be permanent, and we’ve been limited in what we can build here, so the time is right to move on, grow and improve.
“We’ve learned a huge amount from our time in Manchester and from opening our second club in Sheffield last year, and we’re excited to reveal the locations of our new sites — including the new Manchester club — and begin the next phase.
“In the meantime, we want to thank everyone who has made this club so special, and invite them to enjoy a free game of padel on us.”
Club de Padel will close to begin its Manchester relocation on 14 January.
You can book a free hour of padel between 9 and 14 January, through the usual Playtomic system – you’ll be refunded for your booking in full on arrival.
Danny Jones -
6th February 2024 
