Guardiola has been coaching for more than 15 years, and there's not a single season where he hasn't introduced a new player to the scene. I was certain that Guardiola would try his hardest to replicate Mahrez's profile.
When Savio or Savinho mentioned that Mahrez was his role model, he wasn't just considering him as a major figure, but also as an idea and a style of play. Guardiola wanted to achieve a difficult equation where the winger is free, skillful, and always able to win 1v1 situations, while at the same time widening the opponent's marking and expanding the pitch.
In other words, the winger would be free, but not really free! He's doing this with a purpose, within a tactical and specific framework!
Savinio is excellent because he's the version that Guardiola wanted Doku to be, the version that gives him the qualitative superiority on the wing and at the same time is useful beyond just skill. His decision-making after achieving qualitative and individual superiority is present and beneficial.
He can add an individual element that Manchester City needed amid the monotony of last season.
Savinio will be a cornerstone in Guardiola's squad because even with Haaland, he can hold his ground and allow Manchester City's players to enter the box without the ball, creating multiple scoring options.
That's why Haaland was comfortable and not isolated; this solves a problem that Guardiola suffered from last season.
Savinio hasn't lost a single individual situation! Not a single wrong decision was made. Generally speaking, with Girona, he was able to absorb the tactical awareness in Spain under Miguel Sánchez, so he's already heading to Pep well-prepared!
Guardiola loves players who can combine tactical commitment with individual brilliance, and after Messi, Mahrez, and De Bruyne, all indications suggest that the fourth player who will have some freedom that others don't is Savinio!