Luka Romero

Luka Romero Bezzana (born 18 November 2004) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Serie A club AC Milan. Born in Mexico and raised in Spain, he represents Argentina at youth international level.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Romero and the second or maternal family name is Bezzana.

Luka Romero
Romero in 2023
Personal information
Full name Luka Romero Bezzana[1]
Date of birth (2004-11-18) 18 November 2004[2]
Place of birth Durango City, Mexico
Height 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)[3]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 AC Milan
Number 18
Youth career
Formentera
2011–2015 Sant Jordi
2015–2020 Mallorca
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2021 Mallorca 7 (1)
2020–2021 Mallorca B 15 (2)
2021–2023 Lazio 14 (1)
2023– AC Milan 2 (0)
International career
2019 Argentina U15 6 (2)
2019–2020 Argentina U17 2 (0)
2022–2023 Argentina U20 9 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:35, 22 October 2023 (UTC)

Coming through the youth system, Romero made his first-team debut with Mallorca in La Liga aged 15 years and 219 days, becoming the youngest player to play in a top five European league. After alternating in 2020–21 between Mallorca's first team and B team, Romero joined Serie A side Lazio in 2021. His first goal in 2022 made him the first 2004-born player to score in the Italian top flight. He joined AC Milan as a free agent in 2023.

Early life

Born in Durango City, Mexico, to Argentine parents, Romero moved to Villanueva de Córdoba, Andalusia, Spain, at the age of three. He moved to Formentera, Balearic Islands at the age of seven, and started to play at Ibiza-based PE Sant Jordi.[4]

In 2011, Romero had a trial with Barcelona, but could not sign as he was under the age of 10 and did not live in the area.[5] In 2015, at the age of ten, he signed an eight-year youth contract with Mallorca.[6][7] In his first four years, Romero scored 230 goals in 108 matches.[8]

Club career

Mallorca

Romero was called up to train with the main squad of Mallorca by manager Vicente Moreno on 5 June 2020.[9] Eleven days later, he was included in the list for a La Liga match against Villarreal after being given special authorization at the age of 15 years and 221 days,[10] but remained an unused substitute in the 1–0 away loss.[11] Romero played his first match with Mallorca on 24 June, replacing Iddrisu Baba late into a 0–2 away defeat against Real Madrid.[12] Aged 15 years and 219 days, he broke Sansón's record for the youngest player to ever play a professional match in La Liga.[13] He also broke the age record for the five top European leagues which was held by Kalman Gerencseri since 1960.[14]

Romero started the 2020–21 campaign with the main squad, but also appeared with the reserves in Tercera División in some occasions. He scored his first senior goals on 1 November, netting a brace with the B-side in a 3–0 away win against CD Llosetense.[15] Romero scored his first professional goal on 29 November, netting the fourth in a 4–0 Segunda División home routing of UD Logroñés.[16]

Lazio

On 19 August 2021, Romero was signed by Serie A club Lazio.[17] On the opening day of the 2021–22 season, he became Lazio's youngest ever player when he made his debut at the age of 16 years, 9 months and 10 days in their 6–1 victory over Spezia.[18] On 17 October, Romero was included in The Guardian's 60 best young talents in world football born in 2004.[19] He scored his first goal for Lazio on 10 November 2022, the winner of a 1–0 win against Monza, becoming the first player born in 2004 to score in Serie A.[20]

AC Milan

On 6 July 2023, AC Milan announced the signing of Romero on a free transfer, with contract until 30 June 2027.[21]

On 24 July 2023, Romero made his debut for Milan in a friendly game against Real Madrid at Rose Bowl, scoring a goal from outside the penalty area, making the score 1–1 in the eventual 3–2 loss for Milan.[22] Despite the promising start, however, Romero's playing opportunities quickly diminished as the club had signed Christian Pulisic, Noah Okafor, and Samuel Chukwueze, all in the same month as Romero, as well as changed the primary starting line-up formation from 4–2–3–1, in which Romero may play either centrally as an attacking midfielder or as an inverted winger on the right, to 4–3–3, wherein Romero can only play in the latter position.

On 27 September 2023, Romero played his first competitive game for Milan, a 3–1 away win against Cagliari, in which he came on as a substitute for Christian Pulisic in the second half.[23]

International career

Born in Mexico to an Argentine family, he moved to Spain at a young age. Romero holds all three passports, and is currently eligible to represent all three senior national teams.[24] He represented Argentina internationally at under-15 level in the 2019 South American U-15 Championship, where they finished runners-up, scoring two goals in six matches.[25] In March 2020, Romero was called up to represent Argentina's under-17s at the Montaigu Tournament, but the competition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[26]

On 6 March 2022, Romero received his first-ever call up to Argentina's senior team by manager Lionel Scaloni.[27] On 26 March 2022, Romero played for the under-20 team in a 2–2 draw against the United States U20s.

Personal life

Romero's father, Diego, was a professional footballer.[28] His twin brother Tobías is also a footballer, and plays as a goalkeeper.[5]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 22 October 2023[29]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Mallorca B 2019–20 Tercera División 00——1[lower-alpha 2]010
2020–21 Tercera División 15[lower-alpha 3]2——00152
Total 152——10162
Mallorca 2019–20 La Liga 1000——10
2020–21 Segunda División 6120——81
Total 7120——91
Lazio 2021–22 Serie A 801000—90
2022–23 Serie A 61105[lower-alpha 4]0—121
Total 1412050—211
AC Milan 2023–24 Serie A 2000——20
Career total 536405010636
  1. Includes Copa del Rey and Coppa Italia
  2. Appearance in 2020 Tercera División play-offs
  3. Includes three appearances in phase two
  4. Three appearances in UEFA Europa League, two appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

    References
    1. "Luka Romero Bezzana". S.S. Lazio. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
    2. "Luka Romero". Liga de Fútbol Profesional. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
    3. "FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023™ SQUAD LIST: Argentina (ARG)" (PDF). FIFA. 22 May 2023. p. 1. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
    4. "Luka Romero, convocado: podría debutar con 15 años" [Luka Romero, called up: could debut with 15 years of age] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
    5. "Luka Romero (Mallorca) és el nou Leo Messi" [Luka Romero (Mallorca) is the new Messi] (in Catalan). Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
    6. Millar, Colin (15 June 2020). "Mallorca's Luka Romero, 15, to become youngest ever La Liga player". Yardbarker. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
    7. "Luka Romero, 'el nuevo Messi', llegó al Barça demasiado pronto" [Luka Romero, 'the new Messi', arrived at Barça too early] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
    8. "Luka Romero, el niño al que llaman 'el nuevo Lionel Messi', es mexicano" [Luka Romero, the youngster who is called 'the new Lionel Messi', is Mexican] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
    9. "Real Mallorca: Luka Romero: Real Mallorca's 'Mexican Messi'". Marca. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
    10. "Luka Romero, el heredero de Messi, fue autorizado para ir por una marca histórica en La Liga" [Luka Romero, Messi's heir, was given the green light to go for a historical landmark in La Liga] (in Spanish). Clarín. 16 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
    11. "El Mallorca aplaza el debut de Luka Romero, el 'Messi mexicano'" [Mallorca delay the debut of Luka Romero, the 'Mexican Messi'] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 19 June 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
    12. "Luka Romero: Mallorca's 'Mexican Messi' the youngest player in La Liga history". Goal.com. 24 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
    13. "Luka Romero breaks LaLiga record for youngest debutant at 15 years and 219 days old". Marca. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
    14. "A 15 éves magyar bányászfiú, aki hatvan évig maradt Európa csúcstartója". nso.hu (in Hungarian). 19 September 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
    15. "Los dos golazos de Luka Romero para que le sigan comparando con Messi: 15 años..." [The two great goals from Luka Romero so that they can keep on comparing him to Messi: 15 years old...] (in Spanish). Marca. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
    16. "Al Mallorca se le puso todo de cara y el líder acabó goleando" [Mallorca played it all from the start and the leader ended up thrashing] (in Spanish). Marca. 29 November 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
    17. Heyes, Apollo (20 August 2021). "Official: Lazio Have Signed Young Talent Luka Romero From RCD Mallorca". The Laziali. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
    18. "Lazio - Spezia, è già record per Luka Romero: il più giovane del club a esordire in Serie A". La Lazio Siamo Noi (in Italian). Retrieved 10 November 2022.
    19. Christenson, Marcus. "Next Generation 2021: 60 of the best young talents in world football". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
    20. "Il 17enne Luka Romero regala alla Lazio il secondo posto: battuto 1-0 un ottimo Monza - TUTTOmercatoWEB.com". www.tuttomercatoweb.com (in Italian). Retrieved 10 November 2022.
    21. "Luka Romero, new signing of the AC Milan transfer market: the official statement". AC Milan. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
    22. https://www.espn.co.uk/football/commentary/_/gameId/668997
    23. https://www.acmilan.com/en/match-center/2023-24-serie-a-cagliari-ac-milan-g2380444/lineups
    24. "Luka Romero, el 'nuevo Messi', puede hacer historia" (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
    25. "Brasil es campeón del CONMEBOL Sudamericano Sub-15" [Brazil is the champion of the CONMEBOL South American U-15 Championship] (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 8 December 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
    26. Bruzos, Gustavo (12 June 2020). "Luka Romero, la gran promesa del fútbol argentino" [Luka Romero, the biggest prospect of Argentine football] (in Spanish). ESPN. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
    27. Heyes, Apollo (7 March 2022). "Lazio Talent Luka Romero Receives First Ever Argentina Call-Up". The Laziali. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
    28. "La historia de Luka Romero, el joven que juega en Mallorca" [The history of Luka Romero, the youngster who plays at Mallorca] (in Spanish). TNT Sports. 13 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
    29. Luka Romero at Soccerway. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
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