Chelsea and Liverpool made the 2023 summer transfer window a very entertaining one as both clubs chased Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo.
In the end, Chelsea won both transfer battles and have their former manager Mauricio Pochettino to thank for their capture of the former.
Following his time at London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, some Chelsea fans could just not take to Pochettino.
However, he did do some good work at Stamford Bridge, including convincing Lavia to join the Blues.
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Mauricio Pochettino made his plans and intentions clear to Romeo Lavia
Liverpool made multiple bids for Lavia in the summer of 2023, showing how much they wanted the midfielder.
Lavia, though, was persuaded to join Chelsea instead, partly because of Pochettino’s pitch. After signing for the Blues, the 21-year-old revealed that a conversation that the pair had where the Argentine laid out his plans for the team helped convince him.
Speaking to Chelsea’s official website upon his arrival in west London, Lavia said: “He’s a great manager. We all know what he’s done before.
“When I spoke to him, he was pretty clear on what he wanted, and the direction he wanted the team to go in. I was really pleased to hear what he wanted, and his energy was something that matched with mine.”
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Unfortunately for the Belgian, his move to the Bridge has not quite worked out yet, largely because of injuries.
Lavia has spent a lot of time on the sidelines, managing to make just one appearance under Pochettino last season.
This term has gone much better, with the former Southampton man racking up 13. But he has still missed a lot of football under Enzo Maresca as well.
Lavia was at least able to return from a hamstring injury over the weekend, earning some minutes in Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal.
Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
The other factors behind Romeo Lavia’s decision to join Chelsea
Pochettino was not the only reason why Lavia picked Chelsea over their Premier League rivals Liverpool.
The club’s project also swayed the Belgium international’s mind, which he spoke about in his first interview as a Chelsea player.
“The project and the ambitions of the club were key factors in me choosing Chelsea, but also the history behind the club,” Lavia said. “It’s really exciting to be a part of this football club and to write some history.
“I’m really happy and proud. It’s a privilege to be able to put on this shirt. Most of the players we’ve signed are players I’ve played against, and thought ‘ooooof, these players are good’, so to be able to work with them is a great feeling.
“They are young players and good players, so it will be good to make each other better. That’s the only way to succeed.”
Chelsea fans have not got to see too much of Lavia in a blue shirt, but he is such a good midfielder. Lavia is great at receiving the ball and also turning with it.
Paul Merson thinks Chelsea have been missing Lavia. The ex-Manchester City academy player does not score goals like Nicolas Jackson, who has also been an absentee of late, but Merson is not wrong. Lavia can do what a lot of other midfielders cannot; escape the press.