RALPH Hasenhuttl has seen first-hand the mentality that took Philipp Lahm from an intelligent but diminutive prospect to one of a proud footballing country’s greatest.

Munich-born Lahm’s journey remained within the testing confines of Bayern – aside from two years of a loan in Stuttgart – but others have to go and find it.

Born and raised in the Seville suburb of Tomares, Juan Larios made the decision to leave home for football at the age of 12 – but when it is Barcelona’s La Masia calling, the decision is made for you.

It was only two years ago that Larios arrived in England, with four years of the best footballing education already under his belt, and that made him only 16 years old at the time of leaving home for a second time.

Daily Echo: Larios and captain James Ward-Prowse (Pic: Stuart Martin)Larios and captain James Ward-Prowse (Pic: Stuart Martin) (Image: Stuart Martin)

“I think it leads to a very quickly grown person who has a character that you can feel there are a lot of things happening in his life since being here and in a positive way,” Hasenhuttl said, of his deadline day arrival.

His status as a youth international keeps his football tied with his homeland while Hasenhuttl has thrown him in at the deep end at club level.

The Austrian admitted, after the defeat at Aston Villa in which Larios made his Saints debut as a substitute, it was not the perfect match to introduce the teen.

That did not stop Hasenhuttl from awarding him his first start, over Romain Perraud, in the very next contest. Saints lost again, versus Everton, but Larios was involved in the creation of Joe Aribo’s goal.

Hasenhuttl was brave in throwing Tino Livramento in last season, age 18, and has doubled down with a Manchester City flavour this year. Gavin Bazunu, 20 and Romeo Lavia, 18, are guaranteed starters when fit.

“He is a very grown person,” Hasenhuttl added, on Larios. “This is what you can feel when you talk to him. He knows exactly what he wants.

He continued: “He reminds me of a very famous player in Germany that I played with when he was 18 or 19 in the second team of Bayern Munich - it was Philipp Lahm.”

Lahm, one of the most respected players of a generation, is a World Cup winner as captain of his country and claimed eight domestic titles for his club.

Hasenhuttl played for Bayern Munich II between 2002-04, with Lahm – born in 1983 – making many of his 64 appearances for the second team at a similar age to Larios taking his first steps.

Last season, Hasenhuttl compared Saints full-back Kyle Walker-Peters to Lahm for his versatility on both sides of the defence – revealing Walker-Peters also played central-midfield in training.

When it comes to Larios, who has just two senior appearances, it is his mentality – exhibited once more by leaving Man City to find first-team football in the Premier League – in which Hasenhuttl sees the German icon.

“He is a little bit similar to him,” he recalled. “He is very clear in his mind and very clear in what he wants to do and what he wants to achieve.

“He has very good character and this is what you need in modern football.”

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