“He watches all the games” – Defender admits speaking to West Ham man amid strong transfer stories

Despite having left River Plate back in 2014, West Ham United midfielder Manuel Lanzini has never hidden his love for the Argentine club, with some rather strong talk he could return in the near future.

The Buenos Aires media is often wondering when he’ll return to the Millonario, as a comeback to South America is often done by players who decide to leave European football.

Now as River Plate defender Gonzalo Pirez spoke to the local media (via TNT Sports) about the West Ham player, he revealed some of the talks he has with him, wishing that he soon moves back to the club.

“With Manu we have more talks about life, how are the children. We know that he’s a River fan, that he watches all the games, they are very personal decisions in which one cannot get involved because the family is involved, what each one feels, the children,” said Gonzalo Pirez.

“As much as the heart wants to be here, they are things that run on their own. We do not touch the subject, we make a joke, but I do not put pressure on it at all.”

Lanzini was sold by River Plate to Al-Jazira on a €7.5m deal in 2014. In 2015, he was loaned to West Ham, and made his move to London permanent in 2016 for €12m.

Since joining the Hammers, he has 31 goals and 28 assists in 223 appearances for the club.

This season, however, he has been barely used in the Premier League, despite frequently getting starts in the Conference League, and has 20 games played so far.

The midfielder’s contract with West Ham expires at the end of the season, but the club are well protected with a two-year option to extend that if they so wish.