Valentino Lazaro


Valentino Lando Lazaro is an Austrian professional footballer who plays as a wide midfielder, full-back, or winger for club Torino.

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

On 1 August 2022, Lazaro moved on loan to Torino, with an option to buy. On August 2023, he joined Torino permanently.

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.

Career statistics

International

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.18 November 2018Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland2–12–12018–19 UEFA Nations League B
2.10 June 2019Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje, North Macedonia1–14–1UEFA Euro 2020 qualification
3.10 October 2019Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria1–13–1UEFA Euro 2020 qualification

Honours

Red Bull Salzburg
Individual