IT is fairly standard summer practice for 18-year-olds to be sitting in anticipation of their school exam results.

It is not quite so standard for that 18-year-old to have made, and impressed in, a Premier League debut. Romeo Lavia’s exams have gone well, by the way.

In fact, it was during the June round of assessments that the Belgian youth international – then at Manchester City – heard of transfer intent coming in his direction from Saints.

“I’ll be honest with you, I’m doing my school exams and I hear interest from Southampton, and when I hear it I’m just like ‘let’s go’,” Lavia told the Daily Echo.

“I looked at the culture of the club, the style of play with which I was really impressed by when I was on the bench for City playing against Southampton. It was really exciting.”

Daily Echo: Romeo Lavia signed a five-year contract at Saints (Pic: Matt Temple)Romeo Lavia signed a five-year contract at Saints (Pic: Matt Temple)

Lavia has still got a couple more exams to hear back on, yet you cannot help but feel he should be alright regardless of how those results go.

Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl entrusted the former Anderlecht product, of whom Pep Guardiola is known big fan, with 90 minutes during the Premier League’s opening day on Saturday.

“It feels great, it’s a big achievement but I couldn’t fully enjoy it because we didn’t get the result we wanted as a team,” Lavia admitted, looking back on the 4-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.

“After a couple years I will look back on that day as a big experience, it is nice to hear praise but I know how it goes so I don’t let it get to my head. People change very quick, especially in football.

Daily Echo: Lavia during his Premier League debut (Pic: PA)Lavia during his Premier League debut (Pic: PA) (Image: Newsquest)

“I spoke to my family after, they were really proud of me but asking why I wasn’t as happy as them? I’m a winner so I couldn’t hide my disappointment, that’s just who I am,” he added.

You would be forgiven for thinking this was not a teenager who had just recorded the fourth-highest pass accuracy of any Premier League player (96.5%) with 50/52 completed.

Lavia had shown incredible composure under duress from the likes of Harry Kane and Dejan Kuluveski without folding. But with these footballing prodigies, it is learned behaviour.

“At Anderlecht we tried to have a lot of tournaments in the younger age groups,” Lavia said. “I think that helped me to become more of a winner, with a winning mentality. That played a big part of my development.”

At Manchester City, winning became a habit and an expectation rather than a goal. Lavia did not get on but he watched from Guardiola’s bench as blew away competition in Premier League matches.

The youngster experienced one of the most enthralling Champions League semi-finals ever, on the bench for both legs of the eventual 6-5 aggregate defeat to European giants Real Madrid.

“The level of intensity was crazy,” Lavia recalled, thinking back to the standard of that clash in May.

“The performances were great from the team. Unfortunately we didn't get the result but as a young player it’s great to experience it and something you take with you.”

Daily Echo: Lavia made two appearances under Pep Guardiola (Pic: PA)Lavia made two appearances under Pep Guardiola (Pic: PA)

His academy sides also picked up Premier League medals at both under-18 and under-23 level. Silverware might be a little harder to come by here in SO, so the goalposts have changed.

“We always start every competition as outsiders but I think we’ve got a very good team, with new players coming and more experienced players. I don’t want to put any pressure on the team,” he said.

For Lavia, it was always about playing regularly in the Premier League: “And I think I’m a player that can either play a more defensive role or offensive.

“It doesn’t matter the position that I play, I’ve got good players around me that will definitely help me to find my job easier.”

Lavia, if his first 90 minutes in the Premier League and ice-cool demeanour are anything to go by, is no standard 18-year-old. 

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