‘Why didn’t we loan him?’, ‘Bring our boy back’ – Man City react as Guardiola explains chat with Romeo Lavia after Southampton defeat

Pep Guardiola says he was merely checking in on the health of Romeo Lavia when the pair were spotted engaging in conversation on the St Mary’s pitch following Saints’ 4-1 defeat on Saturday.

The 19-year-old talent moved to St Mary’s last summer for £10.5million in a deal that could yet rise to £14m with add-ons.

Lavia was rated highly by City but Guardiola has confessed he simply couldn’t offer the player the game time he desires to continue his development.

Lavia started against his former club and lasted 80 minutes before being withdrawn due to a ‘tight hamstring’ – according to boss Ruben Selles.

The severity of the injury is not yet known but Lavia could be seen after the game chatting with Guardiola before joining his Saints teammates as they walked around the ground saluting the St Mary’s support.

And speaking after his side’s victory, City manager Guardiola explained what was said in his conversation with the exciting Saints midfielder.

“He’s 17/18 years old and how many minutes has he already played in the Premier League?” Guardiola said via the Daily Echo.

“Along an experienced player in Ward-Prowse, very good. I asked him about the injury, if it was just fatigue or cramp, hopefully it’s not serious.

“I’m very pleased because he’s a really nice guy and the potential we saw there was important. The problem is if he was still with us, then he was not going to play.

“So to have the opportunity to go in the Premier League with Southampton who work really well with the academy – what an opportunity. To play week in week out, for him and his experience, it will be amazing.”

These Guardiola’s comments were shared on Twitter by City Xtra and it attracted plenty of attention from the club’s supporters.

@GuardiolaTime: “why didn’t we loan?”

@phadishi: “Bring our boy back”

@fkinhoo: “Please bring him back for phillips”

@CitehPlasticFan: “Lavia is coming back !! Don’t know what happens to Philips though. Hope he gets one more season”

@DazzlingDias4: “No way we don’t activate the buyback soon”

City hold a buyback clause on Lavia as part of the deal that brought him to the South Coast in the summer but that clause can only be triggered from the end of next season.