IN football, there are a certain number of non-negotiables. Rules for players – that are often unwritten – which bear no leniency from the coach.
Fans have their own non-negotiables and, while they are in no position to pass on tangible consequence, it is their support of you which arguably matters most.
Passion, commitment and gratitude – both on and off the pitch – will win you time with supporters on side. Especially when it comes to Saints.
That is why Lyanco has the opportunity to become something a little bit special for supporters. The 25-year-old family-man has all three in abundance.
On the pitch, the Brazilian defender is still adjusting to last year’s summer move from Serie A side Torino. He has made 20 appearances for the club, including 16 in the Premier League.
“It’s different, it’s more strong, more quick and this is my second year here,” Lyanco told the Daily Echo, expertly getting through an interview in English despite battling to fully grasp the language.
“My dream before was to play in the Premier League, so I worked every day for this. I like playing in the Premier League.”
The most recent of those appearances came in the EFL Cup second round win over Cambridge United, in which Saints ran out 3-0 winners over the League One side.
“It was a difficult game but it was important for us to win, the players don’t play every week so for us it was more minutes for the legs,” he added.
Some of Lyanco’s best showings have come in the cups, announcing himself to the supporters during a close-run EFL Cup tie with Chelsea last October after a difficult debut at Sheffield United.
He also helped marshal Arsenal’s attack during the 1-0 win at St Mary’s towards the end of the season – the only victory in the final 12 Premier League matches.
But, at the same time, Lyanco has shown the rash, inexperienced tendencies on which he will need to improve to be a Premier League defender.
His double-header error at Leicester City on the final day of the season typified how the campaign ended for his side.
Alongside learning to get to grips with a faster, more intense style of play, Lyanco has been settling into a new and unfamiliar country with his young family.
“For the language, Spanish is more easy for me so I am very close to Ori (Romeu) and his family,” Lyanco revealed.
“The second day here he asked me to go to dinner with my family, so he has helped me every day. But everyone in the group helped me.
“They all understand it’s difficult the language, but now it’s better. The doctor is Spanish as well, and we have one physio that speaks Italian also.”
Saints are a club starved of top-level success, and any player that is unfailing in their demonstration of the fans’ non-negotiables has a chance to be a cult hero.
Last year, just a few months after arriving in the country, Lyanco was pictured visiting and assisting in fundraising for prematurely born Saints fans Reggie and Evan, who have already needed life-saving surgery.
Thankyou so much @yan_valery for your signed shirt and football boots for our auction, the boys feel very lucky to have support from you, @Lyanco made sure we got them ok 💙💙 pic.twitter.com/IGAK5kzMi5
— helping reggie and evan give back to nicu (@katesturgess10) November 4, 2021
Adding to interacting with fans online and showing his personality in humorous social media posts, Lyanco has been warmly welcomed by the south-coast fanbase.
“I love this, I love playing for Southampton. I am a fan so I play for them, I love to play for Southampton’s shirt, the colour and I like the fans,” Lyanco said.
“I like to listen to the fans, their music, and I love to play football so it is everything together – I love this.”
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