Sponsored by. HE is the shining light whose midweek heroics stopped a dismal season from turning into a total disaster. A rare bright spark in the Etihad gloom, as Pep Guardiola’s serial winners struggle to keep their campaign on an even keel. And rated such a standout talent back home that — even in a nation boasting the likes of Vinicius Jr and Endrick — many are hailing him as Brazil’s  standard bearer of the future.

Not bad going for the skinny South American who arrived at Manchester City in the summer as a £21million snip in an era of eye-watering fees — and a near-unknown to plenty of fans. Yet, while others were in the dark, Guardiola always knew Savinho would be a gem. A kid tipped for greatness from the day he walked into Atletico Mineiro as a 12-year-old. His off-the-bench role in rescuing City’s Champions League assault — he scored one and made another in the must-win game against Club Brugge — was just one more notch on the belt.

For Savinho has been the headline act at every level  since his first steps with Mineiro, who immediately realised they had an uncut diamond on their hands. Which makes it even more amazing to learn, just two years into his footballing education, he was once left to rot on the bench by a coach who could not see what all the fuss was about. Savinho was only 14 and Mineiro’s top brass were so petrified their priceless jewel may slip through the net that the man responsible had to go. Immediately.

Leaving him out was the football equivalent of turning down The Beatles — and even now the man who took him to the club shakes his head in disbelief. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS. Joao Paulo Alves de Paula was Savinho’s first coach at Mineiro and they are still so close that he stays with the City star when he comes to visit. Joaozinho, as he is known, recalls that jaw-dropping first sight of the lad — and the similar amazement when he could not get a game.

He revealed: “Savio was in a group of 20 kids and the only one we picked. He was only 12, a year younger than the others but overwhelmingly the best. “Back then Atletico Mineiro did not have an Under-12s, so he was against older kids from the start. And he stood out above everyone. “When I saw him on trials day I almost fell over. His technical ability and dribbling were extraordinary for a child of that age. I was so excited to see him with the ball at his feet.

“Over the next three years he took huge strides, made decisions in seconds and finished like an adult — all with boundless confidence and a smile. “But it wasn’t all a walk down the red carpet because when Savio moved to the Under-14s, the coach just didn’t like him. “He kept leaving him on the bench. He barely played and when he did, it was at left-back. My hair was standing on end. “Savio can play on either side but he’s a winger. I couldn’t believe what the coach was doing.

“That mistake, that lack of judgment, could have cost Savinho his football career and seriously damaged the club. “So, with such crazy things and  wrong decisions, the coach was fired  and I took over the Under-14s. The smile was back on Savio’s face.”. And that smile has rarely been off the face of the Brazilian since. Former Argentina boss Jorge Sampaoli gave him a debut at 16 and within two years the City Football Group had signed him.

He was initially placed with Troyes but, after loans at PSV Eindhoven and Girona,  Savinho moved to the Etihad in a deal worth £33.6m in July last year. A Brazil debut came against England in March, ten caps have followed and at Christmas he had a starring role — including a first City goal — in getting the champions back on track. Then, with their Euro hopes on the line as Brugge held a half-time lead, Pep turned to Savinho to save the day and was rewarded with a second-half rescue act.

Even Guardiola, not given for singling out players, highlighted his Brazilian star — and Joaozinho reckons he will get even better under the Spaniard. He added: “If he has no serious injuries, Brazil will be world champions with Savio in the team. “The team is going through big changes and Savio will be their leader, no doubts. “He is in great hands with Guardiola as his coach and I’m certain he is going to become a huge star of both the Premier League and Brazil.”.