Manuel Lanzini (; born 15 February 1993) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for club West Ham United. He previously played for River Plate and Fluminense. He is regarded as having well developed dribbling skills, as well as good acceleration, vision, and an ability to ghost past defenders. He has been nicknamed "La Joya" ("the jewel"). Lanzini holds the distinction of the earliest goal scored in the Superclásico derby, scoring only 43 seconds into the match. Career Early career and beginnings at River Plate Lanzini stood out in indoor soccer football divisions, demonstrating his skills in the Club Academia Kaly de Ituzaingó class of 1993, a neighbourhood club. Ramón Maddoni, who has discovered players like Juan Román Riquelme, Carlos Tevez and Esteban Cambiasso, wanted to take him to Boca Juniors for a test match but the young Lanzini declined the call, stating that he only aimed to play for the club he supported: Club Atlético River Plate. Eventually, in 2002, he was taken to River Plate. He began training and started as a playmaker in junior divisions before, after several tests, Pedro Vega, ex-player and coach of inferior club divisions, ordered for him to be hired. In 2008, the eighth division team in which he played won its divisional trophy; Lanzini ultimately scored nine goals, only two fewer than fellow attacker Leonardo Salguero with 11 goals. On 2 November 2008, River Plate won the junior division's Superclásico 3–0 to Boca Juniors with Lanzini scoring two goals and assisting Salguero in one other. Elevation to first team and debut at River Plate (2010–11 season) In 2010, Ángel Cappa, River Plate's first team coach, included Lanzini in the team for the winter preseason, disputing several matches in Salta Province. Lanzini made his informal debut in a friendly match against Central Norte, a 3–0 victory, coming on as a second-half substitute for Ariel Ortega. Lanzini then played another friendly match against Juventud Antoniana, where his performance earned good reception from press and fans alike. Lanzini's performance in the 2010 winter preseason satisfied his coach. Finally, he made his first appearance on 8 August 2010, against Tigre for the first match of the 2010 Torneo Apertura. River Plate won 1–0 while Lanzini was replaced at half time by Facundo Affranchino. Lanzini's appearance made him one of the youngest players to debut in the First Division for River Plate, being