De Zerbi Hopes Sávio’s Fresh Start Sparks Tottenham’s Rebrand

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Roberto De Zerbi has expressed hope that the club’s recent signing of Brazilian winger Sávio will play a key role in Tottenham’s much-needed rebrand after a disappointing start to the 2026-27 season.

The announcement came shortly after Spurs completed the £75 million transfer of Sávio from Manchester City. The 22-year-old winger, who had previously been known as Savinho during his two seasons at City, has decided to revert to using the name Sávio on his Spurs shirt. He will wear the No 17 jersey, which was vacated by former captain Cristian Romero following his move to Atlético Madrid.

De Zerbi’s comments followed a difficult opening fixture against Brentford, which Spurs described as an unacceptable performance. Despite the setback, the head coach remains optimistic about the season ahead, believing that the fresh energy brought by Sávio could help the team avoid the “sinking feeling” that plagued them last year.

The decision by the player to switch back to Sávio, rather than continuing with Savinho, has sparked some discussion. The nickname Savinho translates roughly from Portuguese as "little Sávio," leading to speculation that the change signals his growth and maturity as a player ready to make a significant impact at Tottenham.

This signing represents a major investment for Spurs and highlights their ambition to reshape the squad and improve their standing in the Premier League. With the departure of Romero and other changes, the club is clearly aiming to refresh its identity and playing style under De Zerbi’s management.

Looking ahead, Tottenham’s next fixtures will be closely watched to see how quickly Sávio adapts to his new environment and contributes to the team’s performances. The club will be eager to build momentum and climb the Premier League table after the rocky start, with hopes that this new signing can be a catalyst for positive change.

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