Savio steals the show on dream Spurs debut: £85m star delivers perfect response to critics after move from Man City as Tottenham thrash Charlton to reach Carabao Cup third round
Nineteen minutes was all the time required by Savio to deliver the perfect response to anyone who considers £85million too much to pay for an attacking player who neither scores nor creates enough goals.
The Brazilian, signed from Manchester City on Monday, came off the bench to mark his debut with a goal and an assist against the second string of second tier Charlton, who were already flagging when he appeared.
Savio claimed Tottenham’s fourth goal, a delightful low finish on the end of a twinkle-toed dribble and was denied a second goal when another solo effort clipped Ben Davies and went in for the fifth.
It went down as a Davies goal, but Roberto De Zerbi hardly cared as his new Spurs flickered into life. After a feeble opening-day demise at Brentford, this was a victory he needed and there were things for him to savour beyond a flying start for the new signing.
There were flashes of teenage exuberance from Mikey Moore on the right wing, a strong full debut from Mateus Fernandes in midfield and a first goal of the season from Dominic Solanke.
And a first Spurs goal for Kevin Danso, who came off the bench to score with his first touch, a header from a free kick as he collided with a defender and looked briefly as if he might have to come straight off again, before soldiering on with his wounds taped up.
Savio scored on his debut for Tottenham following his £85million move from Manchester City
The Brazilian came off the bench and made an immediate impact with a goal and an assist
De Zerbi’s team move into the last 32 of the Carabao Cup and that will soothe the nerves before they return to N17 to face Newcastle on Saturday.
Spurs were not always fluent. They encountered familiar problems trying to break down the massed ranks of determined opponents for the first half hour, and they were vulnerable at times at the back, and Lloyd Jones scored late for the visitors.
But De Zerbi can call it progress. The Spurs boss claimed the Carabao Cup was no less important than the Premier League on the eve of the game and stressed the importance of establishing a winning habit. Winning matches, not a match but two, three, four matches.
This aim was reflected in the club’s summer recruitment drive, not only spending big but on players from clubs with cultures of success.
Savio from City with Omar Marmoush expected to follow. Andy Robertson from Liverpool. Sandro Tonali from Newcastle, although the £100m-man was not involved against Charlton.
Instead, he and Marcos Senesi were put through an intense physical training session on Tuesday to improve their fitness.
‘Saturday he will play in the first XI without problems,’ said De Zerbi of Tonali.
With no European campaign, Spurs would welcome a run in this competition to keep those on the fringes of the squad active.
Charlton started the season with three straight wins, but boss Nathan Jones made his priorities clear with 10 changes from the team which beat West Ham in the Championship, four days earlier. Billy Koumetio was the only survivor, and he and his central defensive partner Collins Sichenje were both off injured within 15 minutes.
Sichenje hurt a knee in an innocuous clash with Mathys Tel. He tried to continue but soon went down again and left the scene on a stretcher. Koumetio limped off at the same time. ‘Absolutely disastrous for us,’ said boss Jones. ‘The romance is very nice, but this was a game we didn’t need.’
When the contest settled again, it was the visitors who threatened. Lucas Bergvall was booked for cutting down Rob Apter on a dangerous break.
Toni Kinsky made a flying save from Greg Docherty and Nathan Asiimwe headed a chance wide. Six thousand in the away end were encouraged but Spurs took control once they found their rhythm towards the end of the first half.
Charlton keeper Tiernan Brooks, making his debut after signing from Gateshead, saved from low to his left from Archie Gray and into his midriff from Fernandes, and his back four protected him with a series of crucial blocks and tackles as pressure mounted.
Moore, who scored twice in a 3-0 pre-season win against Hoffenheim, made the breakthrough in the 41st minute. Dancing into the penalty box from the right, the 19-year-old winger capitalised on a slip by Millenic Alli and unleashed a left footer which beat Brooks with the help of a slight deflection.
It was his second Spurs goal and his first since January 2025 when he lit up a Europa League tie against Elfsborg and prompted James Maddison to compare him to Neymar.
Spurs relaxed and confidence washed through them. Four minutes later, Solanke slammed into the second, on the volley as a loose ball bounced his way in the penalty area.
De Zerbi rolled through some changes to good effect. First Danso. Then Savio to add the flourish.
