Barcelona found their perfect midfield pivot back in 1989, when coach Johann Cruyff spotted a lean teenager in the B team who was “slower than my granny”.
Pep Guardiola would blossom into the cornerstone of the great Barca side of the 1990s that won their first European Cup.
Guardiola was 21 when he anchored that team, which included Michael Laudrup, Ronald Koeman and Hristo Stoichkov, not forgetting City football director Txiki Begiristain, to victory over Roberto Mancini’ s Sampdoria at Wembley. If you are good enough, you are old enough.
City face a big decision next summer, when Fernandinho will be 37 and at the end of his current contract, and the upshot is that they will probably need another defensive midfielder unless the Brazilian legend continues to defy the ravages of time.
And with most of their resources likely to be diverted towards buying a striker, that is an issue they could do without.
Rodri has been exceptional this season, but he will need back up next summer — and that is when Romeo Lavia will get thorough scrutiny in pre-season.
The 18-year-old Belgian has already impressed Guardiola, to the point of being handed a debut as a 17-year-old in the Carabao Cup win over Wycombe in September.
City’s problem might be that Fernandinho’s impending retirement might just come a year or two too soon for Lavia.
He has the talent, undoubtedly, he has the intelligence and a degree of maturity, but playing that holding role is crucial, and takes a high degree of excellence.
Rodri will be the main man, and as long as he remains fit and in-form, the problem would not be a big one. Lavia could probably play the backup role.
But football teaches you to plan for all eventualities, and so City may be forced to dip into the market to replace Fernandinho, and allow Lavia to continue developing at a natural pace.
City’s defeat to Brighton in the FA Youth Cup yesterday (Tuesday) showed that Lavia has got most of the attributes for which Guardiola is looking, already.
He was always available for the pass, and quick to switch the ball wide to danger men Carlos Borges and Dire Mebude.
Like Rodri, he is also comfortable taking the ball under pressure, using his body to shield the ball and his composure and technical ability to play out of trouble.
The fact that Brighton defended deep and flooded the central area made it tough. Lavia got no opportunity to show his passing range, and simply had to keep trying to move the ball wide, and quickly.
He had two shooting opportunities from outside the box, one blocked by some typically heroic defending, and the other whistled over the bar.
Fernandinho has taken Lavia under his wing when he is involved in first-team training, so maybe a spot of shooting practice might not go amiss.
Of course, six months is a long time in football, and Lavia could grow physically as well as in terms of his football development, and by the time pre-season comes around be ready to make the step up.
If not, as well as a striker, City will almost certainly be in the market for a defensive midfielder.
Sign up to our City newsletter so you never miss an update from the Etihad Stadium this season.
