History was made on Wednesday, 24th of June 2020, during Real Madrid’s La Liga match against RCD Mallorca, as a 15-year-old boy made his professional debut and thus becoming the youngest ever player in La Liga history. The boy goes by the name: LUKA ROMERO! Don’t forget it!
TOP SOCCER BLOG brings you a brief history of the youngster.
Luka was born in Durango City, Mexico, as Luka Romero Bezzana on the 18th of November 2004 to Argentine parents. His father, Diego Romero, was a professional footballer who played for 16 clubs in his career.
His parents moved to Cordoba, Andalusia, Spain, when Luka was 3 years old. The family later moved to Formentera when he was 7, and he started his career at the Penya Esportiva Sant Jordi academy in Ibiza at the same age.
In 2011, Luka had a trial with Barcelona and impressed but couldn’t sign with the Catalan giants as he was under 10 years of age, not living in the area, and his parents were not willing to move to Catalunya.
In 2015, he signed an 8-year youth-contract with RCD Mallorca at the age of 10 and went on to score an incredible 230 goals in just 108 appearances in the next four years.
Luka Romero was invited to train with the Mallorca first team in June 2020 and was later granted special authorization to officially feature in a match as he was just 15-years-old.
On the 24th of June 2020, aged 15 years and 219 days old, Luka made his professional debut in Mallorca’s La Liga clash against Real Madrid thus breaking an 80-year-old La Liga record set by Sanson — who made his debut for Celta Vigo in 1939 aged 15 years and 255 days old. If he keeps on playing and scores, he will be become one of the youngest goalscorers in La Liga history.
At international level, Luka is eligible to represent 3 countries; Mexico (where he was born) Argentina (his parents are Argentines) and Spain (where he has been living in since he was three), but the youngster has expressed his intention to play for Argentina and has already represented them at under-15 level.
He has been nicknamed the “Mexican Messi” due to his style of play and finesse on the ball, which is similar to that of the Barcelona captain.
Still yet to sign his senior professional contract, Europe’s top clubs are monitoring his situation at Mallorca, so don’t be surprised when you see Luka turning out for one of the elite clubs in the not too distant future.
Did you know that Romero’s father, Diego Romero, is a professional footballer. He plays as a defensive midfielder for Spanish club UD Son Verí.
His twin brother Tobias Romero is also a footballer, and plays as a goalkeeper for RCD Mallorca.
Written by Muftaudeen Abdullahi Ishola
