Romeo Lavia
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton’s Romeo Lavia ‘grateful’ for Premier League chance #SAINTSFC

May 19, 2023
The 19 year old Belgian prodigy is among the favourites to win the Southern Daily Echo’s Player of the Season in what has been a disappointing year for the club. Lavia, who is now a full international, has been a standout performer despite relegation from the Premier League being confirmed with two games still to play. The former Anderlecht youngster joined from Manchester City last summer despite being well-liked by Pep Guardiola and Kevin De Bruyne in order to play men’s football for the first time. READ MORE: How Southampton FC's ideal starting XI should look in the Championship He faces an uncertain future with interest from the big six clubs in England, while Man City have a buy-back clause that only activates next summer – that is the club’s best chance of keeping him. Lavia, speaking to club media for the most recent matchday programme, said: “First of all, I’m really, really grateful that Southampton gave me the chance to have my first step in professional football. “Looking back, I’m really happy to have made this step here. I’ve enjoyed it so far. I’ve learned so much about the club, and honestly, I feel like part of a family. “I know most of the people around the building, and you just want to give back to them for everything they do for you during the week, and the whole year really, so that gives me the motivation to give my all for the rest of the season.” Lavia spoke to the Daily Echo in his first month at St Mary’s and gave good insight into the mentality that has taken him this far. “I don’t feel the pressure, if there is any pressure I think it is always positive as it means people expect something from you. It’s always a positive,” he told us. “It wasn’t a hard decision (to leave Manchester City for Saints), not really, because I felt ready to make the next step and to get experience in men’s football. I feel like it was the right moment. “I think just by training with the first-team at Man City, I was speaking to a lot of the first-team players and had a good connection with them. They were telling me that I was ready to play and it was up to me to move up.”
Romeo Lavia
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton FC starlet Roméo Lavia picks out Man City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne as idol #SAINTSFC

March 24, 2023
Still just 19-years-old, Lavia’s impressive breakthrough campaign with Saints was rewarded with a maiden call-up to the Belgian national team for their upcoming games against Sweden and Germany. Lavia had yet to play a minute of Premier League football prior to his summer move from Manchester City to St Mary’s but he’s quickly established himself as one of his team’s most important players this term. READ MORE: 'Too early to talk about it' Saints starlet Lavia has say on Man City buyback clause And speaking to Belgian media this week, the talented youngster spoke of the players who have inspired him and aided his development, picking out Man City legend De Bruyne and current Atletico Madrid star Axel Witsel. "I know Kevin De Bruyne well, who was my teammate at Manchester City," he said. "We have a good relationship and very often he has good advice on and off the pitch "I look the most like Witsel: solid defensively, with ball quality,” Lavia added. “Axel is really an example for me. I don't really have any idols.  “I don't feel any pressure either, even if we talk a lot about me. There is a good atmosphere in the group, the players quickly put newcomers at ease.  “Off the field, I get along very well with Amadou Onana. It's a pleasure to be on the field with him." Witsel and De Bruyne have combined for 227 international caps and while Lavia has a long way to go to reach either of them, he’s certainly started his career on the right path. ”I am a very ambitious person so everything is possible and imaginable,” he added.
Romeo Lavia
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton FC starlet Romeo Lavia has say on Man City transfer talk #SAINTSFC

March 23, 2023
Lavia swapped the Etihad Stadium for Southampton in July for a fee of roughly £12m having not yet made his Premier League debut for the reigning champions. But a breakthrough campaign with Saints that has led to his first call-up to the Belgium senior side has led to a near-constant flurry of transfer rumours. READ MORE: Lavia named as winner of NXGN Nine award for world's best young players A report this week from Football Insider has suggested that all of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Manchester City are hoping to sign Lavia this summer. City, clearly well aware of Lavia's immense talent, inserted a buyback clause in the deal that saw him become a Saints player but that clause is only valid from next summer. And speaking to Belgian media this week, Lavia opened up on the potential interest from his former club. “It's still too early to talk about it. I remain focused on the rest of the season with Southampton even if collectively it is difficult (with Saints in the relegation zone) . But I keep hope and I remain confident.” Romeo Lavia pictured after Saints' 3-3 draw with Spurs. (Image: Stuart Martin) There were reports that Lavia had a chance of making Belgium's World Cup squad in November before a serious hamstring injury suffered in Siants' 2-1 win against Chelsea halted his skyrocketing progress. Asked about how he handled missing the tournament, Lavia reflected: “Very calmly. I am still a young player. I knew my moment was coming. "The only person putting pressure on me is myself. But I'm very happy to be here. It is an immense pride to join this group.  "Now that I'm part of it, I try to do everything to get to know my teammates." Still just 19-year-old, Lavia has looked like a seasoned professinal virtually from the moment he first stepped onto the pitch for Saints, the byproduct of an impressive football upbringing that took him from Anderlecht to Man City with significant extra work on the side. READ MORE: Assessment of all THIRTEEN Saints first-team stars heading off for international duty “Since the age of 13, I have had a personal physical trainer named Ronald Kabeya," Lavia explained. "It is also through him that I met Johan Bakayoko, whom I am very happy to find with the Red Devils.  "We worked a lot together during the slower moments of the season. I became aware very young of my qualities and of the fact that talent is not enough to perform.  "I was also well supported during my adventure at Manchester City and I try to store all the advice I have been given. ”I am a very ambitious person so everything is possible and imaginable.”
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton’s Selles expands on ‘step up’ comments about Romeo Lavia #SAINTSFC

March 4, 2023
The 19 year old has been the subject of media reports this week linking him to the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal during his first season of senior football. Sky Sports interviewed the Belgian and asked what he thought of the interest and Lavia responded that he does not read it and is instead focused on enjoying his football. Selles was asked later the same day if he has been impressed by Lavia but insisted he has 'not been' and warned that the youngster needs to ‘step up’ to move forward. READ MORE: Lavia responds to reports of interest from Man United and others With a second section of the same press conference embargoed for 10:30PM, Selles was later asked if he could expand on those comments following Lavia’s impressive start to his career. “We are talking about a young player who is in the Premier League for the first time. It has been a very hard season for all of us,” the Spaniard said. “I think Romeo has all the qualities to be a great player but I don’t think he’s there yet. This is why he didn’t impress me. “To make the next step, he needs to show more domination in the games, more domination in possession and more leadership on the pitch if he wants to become the thing everyone is saying he is.” He added: “He needs to give more for me, more for the team, and needs to show more for himself. It is nothing that it is about personally, and it is something the competition is giving him. “He is growing through the competition, both from the internal competition and in the Premier League. We need to be careful when we talk about kids starting in the Premier League. “I have no doubt he will be there but he needs to make more steps and everyone around him needs to be calmed down. When you try to make four steps forward, usually you don’t make the first one. “It is one step at a time, you stay here with us, you perform, you make this team win football matches, you lead on the pitch and in the dressing room and then when the season is finished and everybody is in the Premier League, we can think about something else. “If we don’t make the target together and we start to put individual targets, then we are not going to make it.”
Nathan Jones
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- New Southampton boss Nathan Jones happy with returns of ‘important’ stars #SAINTSFC #WorldCup2022

December 14, 2022
NEW Saints manager Nathan Jones has expressed his excitement at finally working with something of a full squad as Tino Livramento and Kyle Walker-Peters prepare for their respective returns while Armel Bella-Kotchap and Mohammed Salisu rejoin the group following their World Cup participation. While there were a number of factors that led to Ralph Hasenhuttl’s dismissal, the Austrian wasn’t helped by the spate of injuries his side suffered with Livramento sidelined since April before Walker-Peters tore his hamstring in the 1-0 win at Bournemouth. Bella-Kotchap missed time with a shoulder dislocation while revelation Romeo Lavia was also forced out of action for two months with a hamstring problem of his own.  "There's been a real buy-in" 🤝#SaintsFC boss Nathan Jones reflects on the week in Spain: — Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) December 12, 2022 Now though, as Jones and his side prepare for the return of the Premier League with a training camp in Spain, the squad is looking far healthier than at any other point this season.  “They’re really important for us and seeing Romeo Lavia playing and back at it is really good,” Jones told the club’s media team of the previously injured contingent.  “We’ve welcomed back the World Cup boys on Monday so the group is looking a lot stronger and we’re excited to work with it. It’s a really talented group, it is, so we have to make sure we improve certain levels that really need improving and try to get as much as out of them as they can.  “These lads can play he want to play, they can play how most managers want because they’re really athletic and have technical ability, so we have to harness that.”
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton boss hopes new signings can adopt to Premier League intensity quickly #SAINTSFC

October 19, 2022
RALPH Hasenhuttl insists luck is “not a parameter” he works with in management but, by any estimation, he has been left short of it this year. Wherever you attribute the blame for a poor run of form resulting in just three wins in 21 Premier League matches, Saints could do without a few things. Armel Bella-Kotchap, the third young player at the height of form to be struck with a serious injury since April, now faces a spell on the sidelines. He joins Tino Livramento, 19, and Romeo Lavia, 18, in the treatment room, both of whom Hasenhuttl is still waiting on to return. I guess it is rather lucky Saints were able to secure the deadline day signing of experienced centre-back Duje Caleta-Car. Caleta-Car signed from Marseille on deadline day (Pic: Stuart Martin) (Image: Stuart Martin) “I still think you can feel that Duje didn’t really play for a long time, not playing much at the end of last season,” Hasenhuttl said, though, ahead of the trip to AFC Bournemouth. “You can feel he is lacking the rhythm a little or the confidence, and this is what we are trying to build up with him. “It’s important for him to show up with the ball and with his aerial qualities. He’s definitely a player we are hoping can replace Armel very well.” Replacing Bella-Kotchap, although just 20 years old and in his debut Premier League season, will not be easy. Caleta-Car is set for just a second Premier League start, after he stood in for Mohammed Salisu during the defeat to Everton following his Ghana involvement. “When you step in a new league and you see the intensity that is there, it is something impressive,” Hasenhuttl admitted.  “Not for every player maybe, but it is impressive when you see the intensity because it is different. The referees let the game run more, more duels are allowed and it is a different, wonderful league I must say. “When you watch the games on the weekend you are like ‘wow, this is massive’. This is something some players need longer to adapt to. It’s on us to help him to do it quick.” Hasenhuttl will not have wanted the 26-year-old, who has more than 300 professional appearances under his belt already, to be thrust into such a big role immediately. Hasenhuttl is looking to end a run of five without victory (Pic: Stuart Martin) After Sunday’s 1-1 draw with West Ham, the Austrian called for Caleta-Car to show his experience and be more vocal in the organisation of the backline. “But he was an important signing for sure,” he told the Daily Echo. “I hope to have Armel back as soon as possible, though.” Hasenhuttl confirmed Bella-Kotchap will be out for at least two or three weeks – and that is if he does not require surgery for his dislocated shoulder. The young German international wants to go to the World Cup, and Hasenhuttl says that could be an important motivation for his recovery. “He wants to go there so he will do everything possible to maybe not get the surgery and take the pain,” he speculated. “I know the risk is there, this injury can happen again if not fully fixed. This means it is not that easy to say ‘I’ll take some painkillers and go’. “We have to be careful and especially if you’re in a position like him where you have duels all the time. Bella-Kotchap was injured on Sunday (Pic: Stuart Martin) “You need arms and everything to work with, but I am positive as he is a guy who wants to fight for everything and wants to go for it.” The Bella-Kotchap situation adds to an already extensive list of issues for Hasenhuttl to deal with, in what could be a decisive few weeks of his almost four-year-long tenure. Saints are already reeling in front of goal after the club failed to secure a striker, which Hasenhuttl had been open about wanting for over a month leading up to deadline day. But Hasenhuttl denies the suggestion he has been on the wrong end of a bit of misfortune since their impressive winter run ended in March. “I had one time a manager who said ‘always lucky is quality and always unlucky is not good enough”, he said, with a smile. “I don’t take this is a parameter, you try to work your best and to find answers for all the issues. We don’t have an easy job sometimes. “When you are flying you don’t need a manager and we had this sometimes here, but when it is harder they need you even more. This is the job and if you want to do this here, you have to know what you get.” A message from the Editor Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo. Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website. You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more. Don't just take my word for it - subscribe today. Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by searching Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents on Facebook Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated group by searching Hampshire Court and Crime News on Facebook
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Romeo Lavia wants to ‘give back’ to manager Hasenhuttl for ‘trust’ he has shown #SAINTSFC

August 30, 2022
IMPRESSIVE Romeo Lavia insisted he is “trying to give back to the manager”, Ralph Hasenhuttl, for the trust he has shown the young Saints star. The 18-year-old Belgian midfielder has started all four Premier League games so far this season, following a summer move from Manchester City. Last year, Tino Livramento was seen as a freak of nature for displacing Saints regular Kyle Walker-Peters immediately in the starting lineup. Now, the young ace has done the same thing to stalwart Oriol Romeu – and based on performances alone, looks set to stay. “I just came to kind of get experience and I’m getting the chance,” Lavia admitted to the Daily Echo, asked if his regularity is exactly why he left Pep Guardiola’s squad. “I’m trying to give it back to the manager because he trusts me, so from my side I have to prove the manager is correct.” Lavia’s fourth Premier League appearance ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat to his former City rivals, Manchester United. In that game, the teenager came up against the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Raphael Varane – just months on from playing under-23s. “I think they’ve got a lot of good players, they like to move it around in the middle and find the combinations inside,” Lavia said, assessing the opposition. “I think we managed to work against it quite well. We put pressure on them so they had to respond, it was a good battle. “We were unlucky, we played well as a team defensively and offensively, just not lucky enough to get the win or take the chances.” He continued: “Really disappointed as a team because we know we created a lot of chances and put a lot of pressure on them. There’s a lot of positive aspects we need to take into the next game. “Obviously we can’t see it as a good performance because we didn’t get the result that we wanted. But for the next game definitely a performance we can look at and learn from.” Despite Lavia’s cool and driven persona, Saints can see the match-up as close-run and feel rather aggrieved they did not come out with a positive result. Not least because of a refereeing decision that has divided opinion again, with Andy Madley and VAR Peter Bankes choosing not to punish Scott McTominay’s handball. Speaking after the match, Hasenhuttl joked it was “not one handball, three”, but the officials did not deem it an infringement due to close-proximity. “I’ve not seen the replay and honestly I don’t want to,” Lavia admitted, quizzed on the decision. “It’s a decision the referee has made and we have to respect it. You’d have to tell me, I didn’t see it so I can’t say.” A message from the Editor Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo. Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website. You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more. Don't just take my word for it - subscribe today. Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by searching Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents on Facebook Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated group by searching Hampshire Court and Crime News on Facebook
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton sign young Manchester City midfielder Romeo Lavia #MCFC #SAINTSFC

July 7, 2022
SAINTS have completed the signing of Manchester City midfielder Romeo Lavia on a five-year-deal, becoming the fourth arrival of the summer for a reported inital fee of £10.5 million. The 18-year-old Belgium youth international is a natural ball-winner and will provide manager Ralph Hasenhuttl further competition and rotation for James Ward-Prowse and Oriol Romeu. Lavia had a rapid rise at Man City since his arrival from Anderlecht in summer 2020, winning the under-23s player of the season in his first campaign – just 17-years-old. Pep Guardiola gave the youngster senior debuts in both the EFL Cup and FA Cup last season, while he was a regular for the Cityzens in the UEFA Youth League. READ MORE: After signing his deal and completing a move to Staplewood, Lavia said: “I’m really delighted to join this club. "I think this club has a really good culture with young players, so I’m really happy to be here. “When I heard of the interest of Southampton I was buzzing because there’s an opportunity for young players to develop as much as possible and I’m very excited.” Lavia is the second signing from Pep Guardiola’s Citizens, following 20-year-old goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu – who was the first player in at Staplewood Campus last month. Since then, Saints have also announced 25-year-old Polish shot-stopper Mateusz Lis and 20-year-old defender Armel Bella-Kotchap. Lavia continues Sport Republic’s policy of recruiting the best available youngsters from across the country, and giving them their first Premier League steps. On his new addition, Hasenhuttl added: “Roméo is an extremely talented young player at the start of his career who is open-minded and wants to learn and develop his game with us. “We are very excited to sign him ahead of many other interested clubs. It proves that we have a positive reputation for improving young players, which we have worked hard to build up over the years. “Roméo is coming from one of the best teams in the world, learning from the best manager and the best players. Now it is up to him to show us why he deserves to play in the Premier League, as we hope to help take his game to the next level.” A message from the Editor Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo. Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website. You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more. Don't take my word for it - subscribe here to see for yourself. Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by joining our Facebook group - Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated Facebook group - Hampshire Court and Crime News