Latest news with #RomeoLavia
The Sun
05-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
How Chelsea wooed Liam Delap thanks to ‘secret agent' who Pep Guardiola first spotted at U15 tournament seven years ago
LIAM DELAP didn't wait long to complete his move to Chelsea - thanks to the influence of some old colleagues. The striker was on the radar of several Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, but the Blues turned on the charm to woo him to Stamford Bridge. 3 3 Delap, 22, joins Chelsea for £30million after netting 12 goals at relegated Ipswich last season. But the story of his move to West London begun seven years ago at a tournament named after Kevin De Bruyne. The Under-15s KDB Cup in Gent, Belgium, sees some of the top youngsters in the world go head-to-head. It is a scout's dream and top sides send their best talent spotters to the games. Back in 2018, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola went to the tournament himself and was impressed by a 14-year-old Romeo Lavia. He joined the club from Anderlecht as soon as he became old enough on the recommendation of the Spaniard. But just two senior City appearances later he joined Southampton as Lavia became another highly-rated teenager that decided to move on instead of fight superstars for a place in Guardiola's XI. Lavia spent just a season on the South Coast before Chelsea splashed a reported £53m on him in 2023. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 3 But during his days at the Etihad, the Belgian midfielder called Delap a team-mate. Both were in City's star-studded youth set-up and were close pals. Inside Chelsea's Conference League final celebrations as Moises Caicedo sings karaoke into the night The Daily Mail report that "agent Lavia", which he has been labelled by fans, helped convince Delap to move to Chelsea. Though the links to City in this transfer do not stop there. He was team-mates with Cole Palmer in their youth days. Meanwhile, Enzo Maresca was assistant to Guardiola and worked with youngsters during his time in Manchester. The boss already knows Delap well and helped sell the Chelsea project to him. He reportedly told the striker to envision himself leading the line for the club during their Conference League final win over Real Betis last week. Additionally, Chelsea's co-director of recruitment and talent Joe Shields was formerly at City. The transfer chief is said to have a strong relationship with Delap and his family, which helped clinch the deal. Other reports state that Thomas Tuchel told the player to join Chelsea as playing in the Champions League would boost his chances of an England call-up for next summer's World Cup. DONE DEAL The deal is now signed and sealed and Delap can get straight to work as Chelsea look to win the Club World Cup this summer. Following the move the youngster said: "I understand the stature of this club and can see the trajectory it is on with these players and the head coach. "It's going to be an incredible place for me to develop, and I hope to achieve amazing things here and help the club win more trophies." He was also quick to speak of his excitement about reuniting with those familiar faces. On Maresca, he said: "He is an incredible coach and helped us all develop so much. What we did that season was record-breaking, and what he's gone on to achieve - and what the players in that age group have achieved - is incredible. "He has a great understanding of the game. He was very detailed in how he approached things with us and while it can be hard at that age to take on so much information, he brought it across in a way we understood and could put into our games. "I think it's proved in the years since how much it has helped." On playing alongside Palmer once more he beamed: "Cole is incredible in everything he does. I can't wait to be in front of him again and receive his passes!" He added about Lavia and Palmer: "We grew up and played some incredible football together. I spoke to them about joining and I am excited to play alongside them again. "I also know Levi [Colwill] a bit as we faced each other hundreds of times when we were growing up. It's always nice to know people [when you join a new club], and I've spoken to a few of them and asked them for advice. "They've told me how great a place it is and I'm really excited to come and play alongside them."
Daily Mail
02-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE How Chelsea landed Liam Delap: Inside the scout-riddled wonderkid tournament, 'agent Romeo' and Manchester City link-up that sealed £30m deal
You do not need to have represented Manchester City to sign for Chelsea but recent history suggests it cannot hurt, with Liam Delap close to becoming the latest addition to a curious connection growing ever stronger with each window. Before getting to that blossoming City bond at Stamford Bridge, it is worth discussing the KDB Cup, and how Pep Guardiola's spying of Romeo Lavia in 2018 may have contributed to this £30million signing seven years down the line.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chelsea: Why isn't Romeo Lavia playing in the Conference League final?
Chelsea will contest the Conference League final tonight as they look to secure a first piece of silverware since 2021, but will be without a key player. Romeo Lavia will not be eligible to play for the Blues tonight, despite travelling to Wroclaw with the squad and being pictured in pre-match training sessions at the Stadion Miejski. The central midfielder has struggled with injury throughout this campaign, a persistent hamstring issue limiting him to just 16 Premier League appearances, but he has been key to restoring Chelsea's balance in the middle since returning in late April, playing a starring role as Enzo Maresca's side clinched Champions League qualification on the final day of the season with a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest. Lavia has not appeared in the Conference League since making a seven-minute cameo against Swiss side Servette in the qualifying play-off first leg in August, a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge. That will be his final involvement in the competition, though, as he has not been named in the squad to face Real Betis in the final. He was not named in Chelsea's squad for the knockout stages, and cannot be added due to UEFA regulations. Said regulations stipulate that squads be split into an 'A' and 'B' list. The A list cannot be changed once submitted, though the same is not true of the B list, which can be updated until midnight the day before a game. In order to be added, though, players must have been born after January 1, 2004, and been with their club for at least two uninterrupted years. Lavia, born on January 6, 2004, satisfies the age requirement, but, having signed to Chelsea on August 18, 2023, has not yet been with the club long enough to be added. Three other ineligible players have travelled with the squad in reserve goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli, injured defender Wesley Fofana, and Aaron Anselmino. Mykhailo Mudryk is expected to watch the tie, having been spotted mingling with fans in Wroclaw, but did not travel with the club. He remains provisionally suspended after testing positive for a banned substance in December, a charge he denies.
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Enzo Fernandez's turnaround after being dropped by his boss for lack of physicality and SPLIT from his childhood sweetheart and mother of his children... as Chelsea's key man gears up for Conference L
In November, Enzo Maresca justified his decision to overlook his £107million namesake by claiming his prefers the physicality of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia. At that stage of the season the Blues were dreaming of an unlikely title challenge after bouncing back from a defeat at Anfield to beat Newcastle 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. Even at that point, the 2024-25 season could have been charactised as 'eventful' for Enzo Fernandez. The Argentine's campaign began with apologies to his Chelsea team-mates after he recorded himself and several international colleagues singing a controversial song about France's black players in the aftermath of the Copa America triumph. After proving his contrition, the former Benfica star was re-integrated into the side and even began the term in the starting XI alongside Caicedo. However, following the long-awaited return of Romeo Lavia, Fernandez was shunted to the bench and did not start a four-game spell that included clashes against Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester United and Arsenal. The Blues came away from the run with a respectable five points but following Fernandez's return to the starting XI, opponents notwithstanding, Chelsea's form became certifiably red-hot. It's a run in the team that coincided with the talented but injury-riddled Lavia picking up another issue which sidelined him for the best part of five months. And will almost certainly see the 24-year-old start Chelsea's Conference League final against Real Betis. Enzo Fernandez has produced his finest campaign for the Blues since his huge £107m transfer The 24-year-old won over his manager in the middle of the campaign amid injuries in the Blues' midfield The Argentine has enjoyed his most productive season , with seven goals and 13 assists in all competitions The midfielder's late-season form has even caught the eye of Spanish giants Real Madrid and prompted Maresca to insist his roaming playmaker is going nowhere this summer. 'He's a main player for us,' said Maresca this week. 'He's one of the captains, the leaders and he's been very good. He can be even better next season, starting from the first day.' Though Maresca has always been publicly supportive of the midfielder, he's never gushed over his star man quite like this. As Cole Palmer struggled and Nicolas Jackson missed an eternity through injury, Fernandes was quietly going about his business. 'Nothing to say about speculation. He's focused on us and this is the most important thing,' the Italian added. Fernandez should certainly be commended for winning over his manager in a season that has seen him net seven goals and provide 13 assists. His feat is all the most impressive when cast in the light of his off-field struggles. At the end of October the midfielder split his childhood sweetheart and influencer wife, Valentina Cervantes, to live on his own - despite them having a daughter and son together. Cervantes followed Fernandez to Benfica when he joined the Portuguese club in 2022, and then moved to London to join her partner when he signed for Chelsea in a deal worth £107m last January. But after a little more than 18 months, the couple decided to go their separate ways. Announcing the end of their relationship, Cervantes wrote on Instagram: 'With Enzo today we say distance from each other. But we will always be family and support each other through everything. Because there are two kids in the middle that need a lot of our love for them. Enzo Fernandez split from his childhood sweetheart and mother of his children Valentina Cervantes in November 'I know the person and excellent father Enzo is, and the heart he has. And that's enough for me. They don't want to create wars where there aren't any.' Argentine journalist Julieta Argenta shed further light on the situation, writing: ''He told her he wants to live life on his own. They're still family, but he feels the need to experience the stage he skipped by choosing family early on.' The off-field drama continued into the new year after Cervantes revealed that she is 'still in love' with the star footballer. Cervantes, who moved back to her native Olivia after the split, spoke amid rumours that Fernandez had rather quickly moved on with Argentine rapper-singer Nicki Nicole. In an interview with La Nacion, Cervantes said: 'I think the love is still there because it is difficult for it to go away so quickly'. She also opened up on how she's coped with the surprise split as she admitted: 'I took five minutes, literally. Today I don't cry anymore.' Cervantes, however, suggested that her and Fernandez are now 'on different paths' and opened up the possibility of starting a new family. She said: 'I bet on falling in love again and forming another family. I am young and I would have a million children'. Cervantes (left) followed Fernandez (right) to London when he joined Chelsea from Benfica in 2023 The couple were together a number of years after meeting in their homeland of Argentina Back in December, the former law student also used an interview to reveal she had asked the footballer about rumours he was dating Nicole and had been assured the reports were untrue. By this point in the footballing calendar Fernandez had firmly established himself in the starting XI and was wearing the captain's armband with some regularity as club skipper Reece James battled back from injury. In truth, injuries have played a big part in Fernandez's success this season. If not for the hamstring issue that stopped Lavia in his tracks, the Argentine might not have had a route back into the team. And if not for the long-term problems to James, Fernandez would not have been leading the side out every week. Credit must got to the former Benfica star for stepping up when his opportunity arrived. After all, it's now put him in position to make a difference for Chelsea in Poland this week. With Lavia again unavailable, Fernandez will partner the ever-present Caicedo as the Blues look to claim the first piece of silverware of the BlueCo era. 'At the beginning, he was playing in one way all his life, previously with Benfica and Argentina, but for us, it's more about understanding where he has to stay, but also arrive when we are attacking,' Maresca said of his midfielder earlier this month. Fernandez capitalised on the absence of Romeo Lavia and ensured he would stay in the team after the Belgian returned The former Benfica man has the chance to fire Chelsea to their first trophy of the BlueCo era 'I think he scores goals, but he also, in terms of assists, has important numbers. 'I don't have any doubts that starting next season from the first game, he can improve his numbers even more.' If Fernandez is able to improve again next season the £107m fee the Blues hastily paid to sign him will finally cease to look like a transfer blunder.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Chelsea: Why isn't Romeo Lavia playing in the Conference League final?
Chelsea will contest the Conference League final tonight as they look to secure a first piece of silverware since 2021, but will be without a key player. Romeo Lavia will not be eligible to play for the Blues tonight, despite travelling to Wroclaw with the squad and being pictured in pre-match training sessions at the Stadion Miejski. The central midfielder has struggled with injury throughout this campaign, a persistent hamstring issue limiting him to just 16 Premier League appearances, but he has been key to restoring Chelsea's balance in the middle since returning in late April, playing a starring role as Enzo Maresca's side clinched Champions League qualification on the final day of the season with a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest. Lavia has not appeared in the Conference League since making a seven-minute cameo against Swiss side Servette in the qualifying play-off first leg in August, a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge. That will be his final involvement in the competition, though, as he has not been named in the squad to face Real Betis in the final. He was not named in Chelsea's squad for the knockout stages, and cannot be added due to UEFA regulations. Said regulations stipulate that squads be split into an 'A' and 'B' list. The A list cannot be changed once submitted, though the same is not true of the B list, which can be updated until midnight the day before a game. In order to be added, though, players must have been born after January 1, 2004, and been with their club for at least two uninterrupted years. Lavia, born on January 6, 2004, satisfies the age requirement, but, having signed to Chelsea on August 18, 2023, has not yet been with the club long enough to be added. Three other ineligible players have travelled with the squad in reserve goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli, injured defender Wesley Fofana, and Aaron Anselmino. Mykhailo Mudryk is expected to watch the tie, having been spotted mingling with fans in Wroclaw, but did not travel with the club. He remains provisionally suspended after testing positive for a banned substance in December, a charge he denies.
