Roméo Lavia, the Brussels Saint’s

Brussels too small, City not too big

“Only one player in a million is capable of winning at Manchester City. And Romeo Lavia is one of them.” These words come from the master Kompany after the debut of the Brussels ketje for the Citizens in September 2021. Frustrated not to have seen him defend the mauve colors. Proud that a player represents the Anderlecht training abroad so well. Because the Diablotin demonstrates that the talent in our regions is enormous. And that Neerpede is indeed one of the best nurseries in the country.

After his debut in Woluwé, the midfielder arrived in Anderlecht at the age of eight. As many years later, the Brussels club has already become too small for him. In soul and conscience, he decided to set sail in the Citizens youth teams. Very quickly, he imposed himself. To the point of being voted best player in his category in U23. After this honorary title, he played his first minutes in a League Cup match. “Romeo Lavia is very good”had commented KDB for Play Sports after the debut of the prodigy. “Since the end of last year he has been training with us. If he continues his development, I think he will be a top player”, predicted De Bruyne. But the step is too high in City. And too much competition. Inevitably, other teams smell the good shot. Direction Hampshire in a port city of 250,000 inhabitants: Southampton.

Southampton, the rise… then the fall

On July 6, the Saints deposited just over thirteen million euros for an element who only played 97 minutes with the pros. Exaggerated? Certainly not if we observe the debut of the Brussels player in the Premier League. As a sentry, he is an irremovable holder of the 4-2-3-1 set up by Ralph Hasenhuttl. Except that he is not content with his defensive duties. Lavia has exceptional ease in turning around, playing forward and breaking lines. The English media and consultants are quickly conquered. Including a post specialist: “He’s only 17 and he seems to have huge potential.had started Paul Scholes on BT Sports. He has settled into the team so well. This player has a very good pass. He is tall, strong and likes to defend. As a defensive midfielder, he prefers to stay in front of his defense to organize and set up the game without projecting himself too quickly forward.” An opinion shared by Rio Ferdinand: “This young player can play on both sides of the pitch. He is as good defensively as he is offensively. In addition, he has a passing range which is extraordinary.”

Everyone is charmed. Paradoxically, his best memory will also be the worst of his young career. Against Chelsea, he scored his first goal with a potato from 25 meters. Once again, he splashes his talent on an encounter without brilliance until then. Except that the kid is injured in the 60th minute. Was his body ready for such a load at just 18? Ralph Hasenhuttl, his coach at the start of the season, admits having perhaps burned his diamond in the rough. “Playing two PL games in three days is a totally unknown experience for young people like himhe explains after the victory against the Blues. In the future, we will have to be careful. It’s also my responsibility because I have to be more careful not to force him to show us his qualities. Now he’s gone for a long time…”

Indeed, Roméo Lavia took almost two months to return to the team after his hamstring injury. Above all, it strongly mortgages a World Cup where he could have been Martinez’s big surprise. It will wait.

A polishing diamond

Without him, the Saint’s sink in the Premier League table. Eight games, five defeats, two draws for a meager victory. At the beginning of November, he is a direct starter for his return and plays less than an hour of play during a rouste against Newcastle (4-1). A week later, he played 82 minutes in the defeat suffered against Liverpool. Has his coach learned from his mistakes? Internally, we doubt it and the results overwhelm it. Nathan Jones replaces him just before the World Cup where Lavia is not selected. Now Imp, he goes on vacation… but doesn’t enjoy it too much. Lavia especially prefers to work during intense physical sessions. As his personal trainer, Ronald Kabeya, explained to Sport Foot Magazine at the start of the season. “These extra training means that he never goes on vacation. But he doesn’t find it very serious because he likes spending time with his family. He doesn’t see the point of spending money on trips. in Marbella, in Dubai or in other countries where the party is the main thing. He will slow down a bit and he will treat himself to a vacation when he has acquired a certain status.”

When returning to collective training, the 43-year-old Welsh coach changed the approach. No more question of using the 18-year-old Belgian at tire-larigot. Between December and the beginning of February, he is a starter but does not play more than 65 minutes of play. The objective is clear: to preserve the player over time. “We felt that if we managed Romeo well, we would get more playing time from him in the long run.Jones explained after a loss to the Magpies in the Carabao Cup. If he plays too much, he could get injured. So we didn’t use him too much for this meeting. We have to be responsible. When he is in good shape, he is a magnificent footballer. It’s very important to manage a player of his age in an environment like ours.”

A tactic that seems to be paying off. Especially against his favorite victim: Chelsea. For 87 minutes, Enzo Fernandez and the other stars of Stamford Bridge are powerless against the elegance of the kid. Which will make Alan Shearer say after the meeting: “He dominated all of Chelsea’s new signings tonight.” Simple, basic. But so true. To the point that Todd Boehly would have already checked his name in his next spending spree of the summer transfer window to play alongside the Argentine world champion.

The Devils from March?

One thing is written: Roméo Lavia, who celebrated his 19th birthday in January, will one day wear the Red Devils tunic. The real question is rather to know when. Cut for the top level, he represents the next generation in the heart of the game. Only one element could prevent him from reaching the heights: the fragility of his body. But Lavia has her head on her shoulders and has made sacrifices to come back to 100%. By his style, his calm and his maturity, he strongly resembles Axel Witsel. The latter does not see with a bad eye this new generation which knocks at the door. “We have very good youngsters who are ready to take up the torch in the national team.he reassured the microphones of Eleven Sports in February. Several players have already passed through us such as Onana, Theate or Doku. Others like Roméo Lavia, who has not yet been called up, are also ready.”

Wesley Sonck knows Romeo Lavia very well for having coached him in U17 with the national team. For the former Jupiler Pro League terror, no doubt he will be part of the future. “He has a very interesting profile as a midfielder. He is not the greatest (1,80m). But neither was Claude Makelele, a player he reminds us of, with more ballexplained the former Genk striker in the Tribune podcast. I already knew that Romeo had enormous footballing qualities. On the other hand, I did not expect him to expose them so quickly in the Premier League. A player of his talent had already been scouted by Roberto Martinez.”

As soon as he was enthroned, Domenico Tedesco ensured that he followed around 130 players. No doubt: Romeo Lavia is one of them. To the point of being summoned by the German in March against Sweden and Germany? Answer within a few weeks!