Roberto De Zerbi celebrated a stellar debut for Tottenham Hotspur‘s new addition, Sávio, and revealed his expectations for the Brazilian winger to net double figures this season.
Spurs secured Sávio’s transfer from Manchester City for £85 million ($116 million) on Tuesday, concluding a long pursuit, and the 22-year-old quickly endeared himself to fans by scoring in a 5-1 victory over Charlton in the Carabao Cup.
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Sávio was brought on in the 71st minute and made an immediate impact, scoring his first goal for the club in the 82nd minute with a powerful low shot into the bottom corner. Just three minutes later, a deflected side-footed effort found the net courtesy of Ben Davies, wrapping up Tottenham’s scoring.
“It was a perfect day for him,” De Zerbi commented on Sávio. “His biggest improvement area is in scoring goals. He possesses all the qualities of a top winger, but the best ones contribute significantly to the scoreline.”
“We discussed it, and we set a target for him between 10 and 12 goals because we really need that from our wingers.”
“Last season, we struggled greatly due to insufficient goals, which contributed to us finishing 17th.”
Spurs academy product Mikey Moore opened the scoring with a well-placed left-footed strike in the 41st minute, marking his second goal for the club.
A loan arrangement with Bundesliga side Cologne was reportedly finalized earlier this month for Moore, and De Zerbi noted it might be the best decision for the 19-year-old, despite his impressive performance.
“This is important for him and for us since he is a product of our academy. On a day like today, we must determine the best path forward for both him and the club,” De Zerbi stated.
“I’d love to keep him because he is a young and talented player, but we cannot afford to make the wrong choice as he needs game time. Together with our sporting director Johan Lange and CEO Vinai Venkatesham, we’ll identify the most beneficial solution.”
Following Moore’s goal, Dominic Solanke netted with a smart finish in first-half stoppage time, while Kevin Danso added a third with a header in the 67th minute.
Tottenham is expected to face a much stronger challenge in the third round, having drawn Premier League rivals Liverpool.
PA contributed to this report.