Cristiano Ronaldo made feelings clear on surprise Tottenham target after Lamine Yamal snub

Cristiano Ronaldo once crowned surprise Tottenham Hotspur transfer target Savinho as his best young player in world football. The Manchester City forward has emerged as a shock transfer target for Thomas Frank's side.

Savinho, 21, was a bright spark in a dull campaign for the Citizens after arriving from Troyes in the summer of 2024. Pep Guardiola gave the Brazilian 21 Premier League starts in his debut campaign, and while his output often left plenty to be desired, he was a danger on both wings for the ex-Barcelona manager. In 48 appearances in all competitions, Savinho contributed three goals and 13 assists for City. However, Tottenham have opened talks with City over a surprise deal for Savinho. This may also come as a surprise to Ronaldo, as the Manchester United legend snubbed Lamine Yamal and voted for Savinho for the 2024 Kopa Award, which is given to the best young talent, at the Ballon d'Or ceremony.

The footballing great deviated from fellow Ballon d'Or winners Karim Benzema, Luka Modric and Lionel Messi. The latter voted for Yamal (1), Pau Cubarsi (2) and Alejandro Garnacho (3). Modric also put Yamal as his first option, but selected Arda Guler (2) and Joao Neves (3), while Benzema chose Yamal, Guler and Garnacho.

In the end, Yamal, unsurprisingly, won the award after bursting onto the scene in spectacular fashion during Spain's triumphant Euro 2024 campaign. But one of the talking points of the ceremony was Ronaldo placing Savinho above Yamal, listing the Barcelona forward as his second pick, while Guler was third.

His vote exemplifies how highly Ronaldo rates Savinho, while also suggesting Spurs could be onto one of the signings of the summer if they wrap up a deal for the South American. The north Londoners have already signed Mohammed Kudus, Mathys Tel, Kevin Danso, Luka Vuscovic and Kota Takai, while also loaning Joao Palhinha from Bayern Munich.

Guardiola also tipped Savinho for great things during the recent Club World Cup. However, his time coaching Savinho may soon be over, as the forward is understood to be willing to move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, if a fee can be agreed.

Considering Guardiola's recent comments about Savinho's potential, it's possible they could be made to regret letting him go, if indeed he does leave the club. After the forward scored in City's 5-2 victory 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.

"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."