After Facundo Buonanotte slid on his knees in celebration near the corner flag where the Kop and the North Stand meet at King Power Stadium, he rose to his feet, pinched the corners of his shirt and turned around to display every letter of his name to the crowd.
Before long, he won’t need to remind them.
He may not turn 20 until December, but Buonanotte is already blossoming in the Premier League and he is becoming an important figure for Leicester, providing the touch of attacking quality that brought Steve Cooper’s side their first Premier League win of the season — a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth.
Buonanotte’s interplay with James Justin down the right was excellent, and his confidence and directness to take on Marcos Senesi, who didn’t know which way he would go, before cutting inside to power his left-footed finish past Kepa Arrizabalaga was the standout moment of quality in a game of attrition.
The attacking midfielder had other impressive moments, including his through ball to Jamie Vardy in the first half — which really should have been converted for a second Leicester goal. Buonanotte also had three shots — half of Leicester’s total for the game — with two on target. He has four goal involvements in the last five Premier League appearances this season.
Facu on FIRE 🔥#LEIBOU pic.twitter.com/o5WsRTruEq
— Leicester City (@LCFC) October 5, 2024
Cooper is having to be careful with the teenager, who became the second-youngest South American to reach 10 goal involvements in the Premier League, behind only Alejandro Garnacho. A groin issue discovered after his summer arrival on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion is being managed, with his training schedule tailored so he is not overloaded. But he is rapidly becoming an important player for Cooper.
“He’s a talented young guy,” Cooper says. “I’ve been fortunate to work with a lot of players of his age of similar talent, and you’ve got to get the right programme for them in terms of when they play, and when they don’t, the training programme, the education programme off the pitch.
“He’s come to a new country (in England) with Brighton. I know he’s been here a little while, but then he comes to another part of England with new team-mates. His English is decent, but he’s trying to improve.
“But he’s got a really good attitude to the game. He’s aggressive in and risk-taking with the ball and, for a creative player, really puts in a defensive effort as well. We’re enjoying working with him. We know we can make a difference in games.”
After seven games, it is clear which direction Cooper is going in terms of his selection: energy and industry. The type that is exemplified through Buonanotte’s hunger to defend, his determination to close down the opposition, and his tenacity.
Last season, Jannik Vestergaard, Ricardo Pereira and Harry Winks were Leicester’s key players in their patient, possession-based style under Enzo Maresca. All three are renowned for their passing ability. But none of them started against Bournemouth.
During that Championship-winning campaign, this would have been unthinkable. But Vestergaard lost his place in the side after just two games to Caleb Okoli, who already looks an excellent signing. Pereira hasn’t featured in a league game yet and Winks was left out for “footballing reasons”, Cooper says.
And with flair players Abdul Fatawu and Bilal El Khannouss — £35million ($46m) worth of signings combined — on the bench and barely involved, it only reinforces the point. Cooper has gone for more athletic performers. Winks has been the main holding playmaker, but Cooper preferred the legs of Wilfred Ndidi and the running power of Oliver Skipp against Bournemouth, and they did forge an encouraging partnership.
“We really wanted to take the game to Bournemouth.” – Steve Cooper 🗣️
— Leicester City (@LCFC) October 5, 2024
“We hadn’t won for six games, so you’re always looking for little solutions,” Cooper explained. “Harry’s a really important player for us and has had a big impact since he’s been here, obviously, and I’m sure that will be the case going forward.”
Pressure was starting to build on Cooper; this was Leicester’s first home victory of the season in their fourth league game at King Power Stadium. They last went longer without a win at home in the 2001-02 Premier League campaign. But the victory comes ahead of a sequence of fixtures that present good opportunities for points.
After the international break, Leicester head to Southampton, play Nottingham Forest at home, and then travel to Ipswich Town. Beating Bournemouth was a solid start to an important period — and the relief on Cooper’s face was there to see.
Cooper’s Leicester have shown so far that they can graft, they can roll their sleeves up and fight — but in Buonanotte, who was given a standing ovation as he left the field, they have that player who can also provide some match-winning quality.
(Photo: Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)
