Girona really aren't supposed to be where they are. The Catalan club play in Montilivi, capacity 11,810. Most people in the area are die-hard Barcelona fans, more likely to travel the 65 miles along the coast to Camp Nou than cram into one of La Liga's smallest grounds.
But this year, Montilivi is a destination. At the end of matchday seven of the Spanish season, Girona were top of the table, with six wins and one draw. They were a point above Real Madrid and two above Barcelona. This has all happened despite a gutting of their squad, with top-scorer Taty Castellanos and midfield enforcer Oriol Romeu both departing the club.
But their production — Argentine Castellanos', in particular — has been made up for by another South American: Savinho, a Brazilian-born, City Football Group (CFG) owned 19-year-old has lit up the Spanish top flight thus far, scoring two, assisting four, and orchestrating one of football's biggest surprises in the early stages of the season. He has drawn interest from top clubs around Europe, and doesn't figure to be in Girona for much longer.
But who is the Brazilian attacking midfielder, who looks primed to be the latest star in the CFG network? And how is he making such a big impact for a team that has surpassed everyone's expectations?