According to reports, exciting Argentine talent Claudio Echeverri is expected to join Manchester City next month after spending the past year on loan in Argentina.
The Cityzens finalized a deal for the attacking midfielder last January, reportedly paying around £12.5 million plus add-ons to River Plate.
Echeverri, who had just turned 18, was eligible to move to Manchester immediately, but the club opted to let him remain in Argentina to continue his development in the Argentine club.
The loan to River Plate ended in November following the conclusion of the Argentine league season. After a brief break, Echeverri joined Argentina’s national setup and is now set to represent his country in the upcoming South American Under-20 Championship in Venezuela.
The championship begins on January 23 and runs until February 16, featuring a two-stage round-robin format where all teams, including heavyweights like Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, participate until the end.
The tournament also serves as South American qualifying for the Under-20 World Cup later this year, where Echeverri is likely to feature if Argentina secures a spot.
Fabrizio Romano reports that City’s “confirmed” plan is to integrate the 19-year-old into their squad once the tournament is over. Echeverri impressed during his time at River Plate, making 41 appearances in 2024, most of them as a starter.
Echeverri symbolizes a new era for City as Pep Guardiola looks to embark on his first major rebuild. The City boss has urged the club to be active in the upcoming winter transfer window, with Echeverri and several elite midfielders on the list of potential reinforcements.
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