Cristiano Ronaldo snubbed Lamine Yamal for Tottenham transfer target with thoughts clear

Daily Mirror

6 days ago

Tottenham Hotspur are currently searching the market for more summer additions, and one of their targets has already won over Cristiano Ronaldo with his performances
Cristiano Ronaldo once hailed Tottenham Hotspur transfer target Savinho as the best young player in world football, snubbing Lamine Yamal in the process. The Manchester City forward has now surprisingly emerged on Thomas Frank's radar.
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The 21-year-old was a beacon of hope in an otherwise lacklustre season for the Citizens after his move from Troyes in the summer of 2024. Pep Guardiola entrusted the Brazilian with 21 Premier League starts in his debut season and despite his inconsistent final product, he proved to be a threat on both flanks for the former Barcelona boss.
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In his 48 appearances across all competitions, Savinho managed to net three goals and provide 13 assists for City. However, Spurs have now initiated discussions over a potential deal.
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This news might also surprise Ronaldo, as the Manchester United icon overlooked Yamal and voted for Savinho for the 2024 Kopa Award, which recognises the best young talent, at the Ballon d'Or ceremony. The football legend's choice differed from fellow Ballon d'Or winners Karim Benzema, Luka Modric and Lionel Messi.
Ronaldo's former rival Messi cast his votes for Yamal, Pau Cubarsi and Alejandro Garnacho, while Modric also favoured Yamal as his top pick but chose Arda Guler and Joao Neves in second and third, while Benzema selected Yamal, Guler and Garnacho.
Ultimately, Yamal claimed the accolade following his sensational breakthrough during Spain's victorious Euro 2024 run. However, one of the ceremony's major talking points was Ronaldo positioning Savinho ahead of Yamal, naming the Barcelona sensation as his runner-up choice, with Guler completing his top three.
The selection demonstrates just how highly Ronaldo regards him, while also hinting Spurs could secure one of the summer's shrewdest acquisitions should they finalise a deal for the South American talent. The north London outfit have already brought in Mohammed Kudus, Mathys Tel, Kevin Danso, Luka Vuscovic and Kota Takai, alongside securing Joao Palhinha on loan from Bayern Munich.
Guardiola similarly backed Savinho for stardom during the recent Club World Cup. Nevertheless, their time working together could be drawing to a close, as the attacker is reportedly prepared to relocate to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium should both clubs reach an agreement on terms.
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Given Guardiola's latest observations regarding Savinho's capabilities, City might find themselves ruing his departure should he indeed exit the Etihad. Following the winger's strike in City's 5-2 triumph over Juventus, Guardiola said: "He is a player with incredible potential. We cannot forget he's so young.
"He needs to make the final third more decisive in aspects like the goal he has done in the last game. He has to do it more. The last goal is more and more complicated and difficult to score than the previous ones - one against ones, the 'keeper, that maybe last season he missed.
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"The moment he will make this step, which will come in a natural way because he has incredible individual quality, when it arrives for his commitment to say I want to do it, I want to be decisive, I want to score goals and make more assists, he will become an extraordinary player.
"He can play on both sides, right and left, he's so fast, he understands tactically the movements he has, so that's why he can play with us."