West Ham’s £100k-pw star Manuel Lanzini has made it clear he wants to stay after persistent talk of a move back to his old club.
Lanzini has enjoyed something of a West Ham renaissance under David Moyes over the last couple of seasons.
Used in a variety of roles, including a deeper midfield position, Lanzini’s brilliant technical skills and ability to pass through the lines has been crucial to the rise of the Hammers.
Lanzini signed a new four-year deal on £100k-pw with West Ham back in 2019 (Daily Mail, Football Insider).
But there has been persistent speculation that Lanzini could be set for a return to his former club River Plate over the last few transfer windows.
Lanzini began his career at River Plate in Argentina but left for Saudi Arabia when he was only 21 before then signing for West Ham.
One time River Plate president Rodolfo D’Onofrio told TYC Sports that West Ham ace Lanzini wanted to leave to return to his boyhood club last summer.
When speaking to TyC Sports himself last season, Lanzini suggested he would like to return to River Plate at some point in the future.
“River are an institution that has nothing to envy the big clubs in Europe,” Lanzini told TyC Sports earlier this year.
“They treated my entire group very well, we did well too. Obviously it makes you want to return to a club of River’s magnitude and above with the plus that is Gallardo.”
Back in March, a report from La Pagina Millonaria claimed there had been a meeting between West Ham’s ‘little jewel’ and River Plate’s vice-president Matian Patanian about a possible reunion in the summer.
But now comments from £100k-pw star Lanzini makes it clear he wants a West Ham stay after talk of a move back to his old club (whufc.com).
“I had a very good holiday with my family and friends,” Lanzini told whufc.com after a trip back to Argentina for the summer break.
“You need to relax – your mind, you body, everything to get to 100 per cent to work hard for the pre-season.
“But now it’s good to be back, because it’s great to have a holiday but part of you misses this environment. You miss the training, being around the lads, so I’m happy to be back…
“I’m feeling strong and last season, personally, was really good because I played a lot of games.
“Now I’m focused on staying at that level to play that number of games again and help the team and the club in the season ahead.”
It doesn’t get much clearer than that. Lanzini will at the very least see out what remains of his contract through to next summer.
West Ham do though – as confirmed at the time he signed his new deal – have a two-extension option to 2025 on Lanzini’s contract.
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