Lanzini and Messi called up for duty

West Ham’s Manuel Lanzini has been named alongside Lionel Messi for international duty for Argentina. Both were named in the squad on Friday for friendlies against Brazil and Singapore on tour next month.

Lanzini has caught the eye of Jorge Sampaoli, the Sevilla coach set to take the vacant Argentina job after the Spanish Liga season ends this weekend and likely to dramatically change the team’s tactics

The Argentine FA posted the squad on its official website (www.afa.com.ar) without mentioning Sampaoli, who was confirmed last month by its president Claudio Tapia as their chosen candidate after they sacked Edgardo Bauza.

The team captained by Lionel Messi will play arch-rivals Brazil in Melbourne on June 9 and visit Singapore four days later.

Lanzini has made five appearances for Argentina’s Under 20 team scoring 2 goals. In May 2016, Lanzini was named in Argentina’s provisional 35-man squad for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He withdrew from the squad in July 2016 following a knee injury sustained while training in Miami, Florida. He returned to London for treatment.