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Manuel Lanzini has told Declan Rice that he can be a better player than former Barcelona and Liverpool star Javier Mascherano, per West Ham United’s official website.
Rice has made his first-team breakthrough at the London Stadium this season, playing a total of 30 games in all competitions.
What’s the word?
Rice has excelled in a defensive midfield position under manager Manuel Pellegrini this season.
The 20-year-old, who recently opted to represent England at international level instead of the Republic of Ireland, has been so impressive that there have been calls for Gareth Southgate to include him in his next Three Lions squad.
And Argentina international Lanzini, a compatriot of Mascherano, who now plays for Hebei China Fortune and once represented the Hammers, believes that Rice could match the esteemed 34-year-old in the coming seasons.
“Declan for me is the hero of the team,” Lanzini told the club’s website.
“He is a very young player, but it is as if he has played 200 games. He is amazing.
“I like to play with him because he has good touch, he has good recovery, I think he is one of the best players in the Premier League.
“He is [like Javier Mascherano]. I played with Mascherano and he is a very good player. He is 20 and I think Declan needs to continue like this, if he stays focused, I think he can be better than Mascherano.”
Hyperbole overload
Rice has, indeed, been playing with an old head on his shoulders in recent months.
The midfielder has been exceptional in games against the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool and is primed to take the next step in what could become another storied career.
However, words like this may do him more harm than good.
Mascherano was an integral part of the way both Barcelona and Liverpool played and has won everything there is to win in the club game; he has five La Liga titles, five Copa del Reys, two Champions League winners’ medals, three Supercopa de Espanas, two UEFA Super Cups and two FIFA Club World Cups.
Add into that the fact that he helped Argentina to the 2014 World Cup final and won gold at the Olympic Games twice, and Lanzini’s words start to look more than a tad hyperbolic.
Rice is clearly a very good player; he has some way to go to reach the level of Mascherano though.
