Manuel Lanzini likes the look of the Olympic Stadium. He can see himself pulling on his boots in this home dressing room next season for a big game rather than sitting down to conduct this interview.

He can visualise stepping out in claret and blue into the arena with its iconic triangular floodlight stands, although he knows the playing surface will be in better condition than it was on his recent tour of West Ham’s new home.

The Olympic Stadium was virtually empty, but he can appreciate the beauty of a silenced sporting venue as the man responsible for once stopping the noise at La Bombonera, with a goal for River Plate against Boca Juniors in the Buenos Aires derby.

West Ham midfielder is relishing the opportunity to play in the club's new Olympic Stadium next season

Lanzini took to the pitch during a recent tour of West Ham's future home having joined the club last summer

West Ham trio Lanzini, Aaron Cresswell (left) and Reece Oxford (right) inspect the design of the new stadium

West Ham will move into their new 54,000-seater arena ready for the start of the 2016/17 campaign

‘You could not hear a thing except for our players shouting,’ said Lanzini. ‘Our fans were not there. As a team we went in on our own. It felt like there were only us and we were telling them all to stay quiet. It was an incredible feeling.

‘I scored there twice. The first goal was the fastest in Superclasico history. I scored after 42 seconds, a header. Our fans were there for that one. For the second, our fans were not there, they were not allowed to go to the away games. I actually preferred that goal.

‘The match is so widely followed, everything is River-Boca for a week, leading up to it. You’re really thinking about the game and people are phoning you. Then you arrive at the ground and anything you can imagine they would throw at the bus. It’s a crazy experience.’

Lanzini was born near Buenos Aires and raised a River Plate supporter, joining the club at nine, and making his first-team debut at 17. He was compared to Pablo Aimar for his slight build, vision and touch, and nicknamed La Joya — The Jewel.

‘Aimar was my hero,’ said Lanzini. ‘He came through the youth ranks and had more or less the same position. I watched him often, partly because it was a pleasure — the way he moved the ball and got the team going — and partly because people said we had similar styles. I homed in on him for that.’

At West Ham, it did not take long to make an impression with a flurry of goals and assists early in the season, having arrived on loan from Al Jazira in the United Arab Emirates. There is a deal in place for the 22-year-old Argentine to make the move permanent next year.

Lanzini joined boyhood club River Plate at the age of nine and went on to score against rivals Boca Juniors

Lanzini's hero growing up was Pablo Aimar (pictured in 1999) who went on to play for Valencia and Benfica

LANZINI'S FAB FOUR Only Dimitri Payet (with five) has scored more league goals for West H am this season than Lanzini, who has found the net against Liverpool, Crystal Palace, Everton and Spurs. Advertisement

‘There were several offers to come to Europe,’ said Lanzini. ‘All were sort of loan deals and West Ham was the best for me. It is a well-organised club where I can develop as a footballer and a human being. There’s a great group of players with several Spanish speakers, and coaching staff with faith in me who give me confidence.

‘London is one of the great cities of the world, everyone wants to see it. The Premier League is fast and dynamic, it suits my game. It has all made the adaptation process easier. I’m very comfortable here.’

It took a thigh injury to halt his progress but Lanzini is recovering well and should be back in action at some stage over the festive period.

‘It was a blow because I was in good form and playing consistently,’ he said. ‘It is like starting again after an injury.’

Lanzini, pictured celebrating after socring against Liverpool at Anfield, has impressed since arriving on loan

Lanzini has been sidelined due to a thigh injury but it is hoped he will make a comeback over Christmas

Manager Slaven Bilic will welcome him back. West Ham have not scored since his last game, at West Bromwich Albion on November 29.

Bilic had tried to lure Lanzini to Besiktas last year when he decided to leave Argentina, but he opted for Abu Dhabi at a time when the UAE league was trying to rebrand as a stepping stone to big things, rather than a pay-day for has-beens.

Lanzini thrived under Belgian coach Eric Gerets, scoring twice on his debut. He ended the campaign with seven but was involved in 70 per cent of Al Jazira’s goals, playing in behind former Juventus and Roma striker Mirko Vucinic.

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic has long admired Lanzini having also tried to sign the playmaker at Besiktas

Lanzini moved to Abu Dhabi to join Al Jazira in 2014 and admits he used the switch as a stepping stone

‘We knew as soon as he arrived that he wouldn’t stay long,’ said Liam Weeks, Al Jazira’s head of performance analysis and sports science, who plays a central role in the club’s recruitment strategy.

‘The Middle East used to be a graveyard for players but that’s started to change. We want players in their prime who want to progress, not just those who come for the pay-cheque and to relax.

‘So it makes it difficult to keep a player when someone comes in from Europe like West Ham. There is still a keen interest here in Lanzini. He was popular. They all follow him and talk about him.’

Gerets was replaced earlier this year by Brazilian Abel Braga, back for a second spell at Al Jazira and who worked with Lanzini during his year on loan at Fluminense. Braga had transfer targets and the UAE limit of three non-Asian players gave Bilic his chance to strike.

‘It was a good experience in Abu Dhabi,’ said Lanzini. ‘It’s on a different level to the Premier League or La Liga, or the Argentinian league, but it’s growing and they’re putting a lot of money in.

‘It was a decision I made with my family. I tried to use it as a step to Europe, and to help me develop and learn, playing with high-level footballers. I was 21 and looked up to experienced players like Vucinic and Jucilei, who has played in Brazil and Russia.’

Weeks is certain Lanzini has the talent to make it to the very top, and is capable of playing in the Champions League.

On the Olympic Stadium tour, Lanzini, Aaron Cresswell and Reece Oxford were sidetracked by a large computer-generated print of West Ham in action against Real Madrid. Diafra Sakho was celebrating a goal. Cristiano Ronaldo had his hands on his knees in despair.

‘Anything is possible in football,’ said Lanzini. ‘It’s a strange game. If you’re willing to put in the hard work anything is possible.

Lanzini thrived under Belgian manager Eric Gerets and found the net twice on his debut for Al Jazira

Lanzini revealed he learned a lot playing with experienced forwards like former Juventus striker Mirko Vucinic

Cresswell and Oxford look at the the computer-generated print of West Ham in action against Real Madrid

‘That has been the case for the club with this great stadium and signing some great players. We hope more great players will be coming in.

‘I hope to be sitting here next season in this dressing room. It’s what I want. When you’re at a club and feeling like you have an important role, you want to stay. But I am focused on this season. I have six or seven months of my loan to run so we’ll see what happens.

‘This is going to give West Ham a boost. As a stadium, it’s fantastic — the facilities around the complex.

‘It will be great for the players and fans alike. I hope we can do our bit to live up to the setting.’