OPINION
When Manuel Lanzini was nowhere to be seen in Argentina’s squad for defeat to Venezuela on Friday night, West Ham supporters would have been fearing the worst.
Back after his seriously long injury layoff, the attacking maestro was included, perhaps surprisingly, in his country’s squad for the international break, having returned to Premier League action in recent weeks.
His absence against their South American rivals, which ended 3-1 to the Venezuelans, would surely have had alarm bells ringing in east London, with worries that he had suffered a relapse of his setback – a warranted fear considering he was on international duty when he was laid off for so long.
However, Football.London have delivered a positive update report on the confusion surrounding the Irons’ Argentine star, revealing that he was there to train alongside his teammates and to ensure the player knows his country have not forgotten about what he has to offer.
A nice touch – but it begs the question as to who else has not forgotten about what he can do on a football pitch.
The South American ace has been linked with a move away from the London Stadium in the past, The Sun reporting that Liverpool were keen on replacing Philippe Coutinho with the Irons star – a pursuit which has failed to dissipate entirely if Football Fancast’s report earlier in 2019 is to be believed.
If Argentina have not forgotten what he can do, then neither will his transfer suitors – and so this positive piece of news could well prove to be a poisoned chalice for the Hammers.
