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Manuel Lanzini showing why West Ham invested in him

By Adam Smith

WATFORD, ENGLAND - AUGUST 24: Manuel Lanzini of West Ham United runs with the ball during the Premier League match between Watford FC and West Ham United at Vicarage Road on August 24, 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images)
WATFORD, ENGLAND - AUGUST 24: Manuel Lanzini of West Ham United runs with the ball during the Premier League match between Watford FC and West Ham United at Vicarage Road on August 24, 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images) /
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Just over a year after tearing his ACL with the Argentinian International Team, Manuel Lanzini has signed a new deal and lit it up for West Ham to start the season. A true professional and the offensive sparkplug for the Irons.

From a devastating loss to a key player, Manuel Lanzini has been through it all in the last 15 months. As mentioned, Lanzini was realizing a dream when he was selected to play for Argentina in the World Cup. After a gruesome and tragic injury saw him tear his ACL, not only would he not factor into the National Team, but his club season was all but over too.

Fast forward to now, and Lanzini has a new contract and is an integral part in Manuel Pellegrini’s Premier League project at West Ham. Not only is he cemented in the center of the midfield for the Hammers, but he’s making the most out of his opportunity there.

Ranking just behind Kevin De Bruyne and tied with Trent Alexander-Arnold for opportunities created. Lanzini is embracing his role as the midfield string-puller for the Irons and excelling in that position. He’s supported extremely well now with Felipe Anderson and Andriy Yarmolenko flanking him, Mark Noble and Declan Rice backing him up, and Sebastien Haller set up in front of him on the pitch.

Notorious for blowing hot and cold on a game-by-game basis, Lanzini is anything but inconsistent to start this season. Out of the attacking midfield three that West Ham had at their disposal, Lanzini has outplayed and thus outlasted Jack Wilshere and Pablo Fornals in the starting line up.

As for goals this season, Lanzini appears to be focused on the team over personal in this category, stating in an interview with the club: “We have a lot of very good attacking players. We need to work hard because the ambition is to go to the Europa League and we need to concentrate on this.”

He also emphasized his desire to win silverware at West Ham, the club he has pledged the next 4-6 years of his career with. As an ambitious player, Lanzini will be helping drive the boat for West Ham towards the ultimate goal of winning trophies, as his personal professional legacy relies on it.

Looking more settled and impressive than ever, Lanzini has an opportunity to ‘glow up’ to the consistently dangerous player we all know he is, supported by his elite teammates. We as Hammers supporters are lucky to have him on the team and he looks to already be showing dividends on the investment West Ham have made in him.