NBA to the Premier League! Chelsea star Romeo Lavia wants to see FIFA Club World Cup pre-match entrances used in English top flight

At the heart of Lavia’s suggestion is the NBA-style entrance format, where players are announced one at a time and walk onto the pitch to crowd applause. This new format was introduced at the restructured Club World Cup and made a big impact from the opening fixture between Inter Miami and Al Ahly.

When Lionel Messi's name was called at the Hard Rock Stadium, the crowd erupted, setting the tone for a tournament where entertainment meets sport. This style of entrance, although leading to slight delays in actual kick-off times, has been praised for its flair and spectacle, traits that are a staple in American sports presentations.

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Lavia, speaking to talkSPORT, said: "I think it's something special and new for us. It's a first for us. I enjoyed it. Why not bring it to the Premier League? I mean, it's a bit of a showbiz thing, isn't it? I quite like it. The only difference is [if we did it in the Premier League], we might get a bit cold because once you're out there, you have to wait for maybe the other players. But apart from that, it was good. I guess we always learn new things from international tournaments and that's what makes it special."

Last season proved frustrating for the 21-year-old, who was plagued by a string of hamstring problems. Lavia made just 16 league appearances, with fitness concerns limiting his ability to contribute consistently. He was also excluded from Chelsea's Europa Conference League squad in a deliberate effort to manage his workload and avoid further setbacks.

Chelsea’s next Club World Cup fixture sees them square off against Brazilian side Flamengo on Friday night. A second win would all but secure a passage into the knockout stage for the Blues and build further momentum as they eye the title in the newly formatted tournament.