Romeo Lavia, 20, was one of a dozen signings for Chelsea FC last summer, but the Blues only got 32 minutes of total service out of the midfielder. Yes, for the whole season, as the £62 million acquisition from Southampton was next level “injury-riddled.” However, he has convalesced fully, and he is now ready to rock this summer preseason.
He has been posting on all of his social media accounts, footage of just how fully fit he is right now.
Romeo Lavia on IG. ? pic.twitter.com/ADHLPF8f8P
— Vince™ (@Blue_Footy) June 9, 2024
For today’s Chelsea Transfer Talk go here
The Belgian international has now reunited with Enzo Maresca, the newly minted Blues boss. Maresca managed Lavia when they were both in the Manchester City Academy.
Shifting gears to philanthropy, Soccer Aid took place this past weekend, and a side of all English players led by Frank Lampard beat Mauricio Pochettino’s World XI 6-2 at Stamford Bridge. Eden Hazard was among the heroes, as he nailed this free kick:
Eden Hazard nailing a free kick at Stamford Bridge.
Just feels right ?
(via @socceraid) pic.twitter.com/eGi2HbpZv4
— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 9, 2024
The event raised over £15m for UNICEF, the organization under the United Nations umbrella which focuses on children. This brings the lifetime total raised by UNICEF to over £100m. And you have to love this video/photo-opp between Lampard and Pochettino, two recently sacked Chelsea managers:
Mauricio Pochettino and Frank Lampard ?? #SoccerAid pic.twitter.com/pQGD296TDl
— CFC-Blues (@CFCBlues_com) June 8, 2024
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to Ravens Wire, part of the USA Today SMG’s NFL Wire Network and the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated, Chicago Tribune and the Washington Times. You can follow him on Linked In and Twitter.