Valentino Lando Lazaro (born 24 March 1996) is an Austrian professional footballer who plays as a right midfielder, full-back, or right winger for UAE Pro League club Al Ain.
Club career Lazaro was born in Graz, Austria, to an Angolan father and a Greek Cypriot mother. He made his full debut for Red Bull Salzburg on 3 November 2012 against Admira Wacker in the league. At 16 years and 224 days, he became the youngest player ever in the history of the Austrian Bundesliga.
Lazaro's loan deal from Red Bull Salzburg to Hertha BSC was made permanent in 2017, when he was signed on a long-term deal at the Bundesliga club. He scored his first goal for Hertha BSC in a 2–0 away win against Bayer Leverkusen on 10 February 2018.
Inter Milan On 1 July 2019, Lazaro joined Inter Milan. He made his Serie A debut in Inter's 4–3 defeat of Sassuolo on 20 October 2019.
Loan to Newcastle United On 24 January 2020, Lazaro joined Newcastle United on loan for the remainder of the 2019–20 season and was handed the number 23 shirt. He scored his first Newcastle goal in a 3–2 win over West Bromwich Albion to secure a spot in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. On 1 July, Lazaro scored his first goal in the Premier League for the club in a 4–1 win over Bournemouth.
Loan to Borussia Mönchengladbach After the end of the loan spell at Newcastle, on 20 August 2020, Lazaro joined Borussia Mönchengladbach on a season-long loan. On 8 November, he scored his first goal for the club with a scorpion kick in a 3–4 defeat against Bayer Leverkusen. The goal would be awarded as both the goal of the month for November and the Bundesliga goal of the season.
Loan to Benfica On 31 August 2021, Lazaro joined Primeira Liga club Benfica on loan for the remainder of the 2021–22 season.
Loan to Torino and permanent signing On 1 August 2022, Lazaro moved on loan to Torino, with an option to buy. On 19 August 2023, he joined Torino permanently from Inter.
International career Lazaro made his senior debut for the Austria national team 30 May 2014 in a 1–1 friendly draw against Iceland in Innsbruck, replacing Marko Arnautović for the last fifteen minutes. In May 2021, he was included in the 26-man Austria squad for the delayed UEFA Euro 2020.
Career statistics
Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsRed Bull Salzburg2012–13Austrian Bundesliga5000–00502013–14Austrian Bundesliga11210–101322014–15Austrian Bundesliga25440–303242015–16Austrian Bundesliga17240–102222016–17Austrian Bundesliga29352–1224672017–18Austrian Bundesliga0010–2030Total8711152–19212115FC Liefering (loan)2013–14Austrian First League30—–—30Hertha BSC2017–18Bundesliga26210–403122018–19Bundesliga31330––343Total57540–40655Hertha BSC II2017–18Regionalliga Nordost11—–—11Inter Milan2019–20Serie A6010–40110Newcastle United (loan)2019–20Premier League1312100—152Borussia Mönchengladbach (loan)2020–21Bundesliga22210–50282Benfica (loan)2021–22Primeira Liga180302060290Torino (loan)2022–23Serie A23020––250Torino2023–24Serie A35010––3602024–25Serie A33020––3502025–26Serie A31040––350Torino total122090––1310Career total328193532038240324
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsAustria201440201500201610201760201881201992202010202130202240Total363
Scores and results list Austria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Lazaro goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Valentino Lazaro No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 18 November 2018 Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland 2–1 2–1 2018–19 UEFA Nations League B 2. 10 June 2019 Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje, North Macedonia 1–1 4–1 UEFA Euro 2020 qualification 3. 10 October 2019 Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria 1–1 3–1
Honours Red Bull Salzburg Austrian Bundesliga: 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17 Austrian Cup: 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17 Individual Bundesliga Goal of the Month: November 2020 Bundesliga Goal of the Year: 2020–21
References
External links
Eurosport profile