Manchester City To Sign “Next Messi” Claudio Echeverri
Argentine wonderkid Claudio Echeverri looks set to join Pep Guardiola‘s Manchester City side this January. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, City offered Echeverri’s current club River Plate a €25 million transfer fee, which matches his release clause. He is expected to sign a long-term contract with City but will remain with River Plate on loan for another year rather than immediately joining his new club.
The talented 17-year-old has garnered interest from both Manchester City and Barcelona following his superb showing during the U-17 World Cup in Indonesia earlier this year. Echeverri scored five goals for Argentina, three of which came against Brazil in the quarterfinals. He helped lead his Argentina side to the semifinals of that tournament where they fell to the eventual champions Germany in penalties.
Despite being just 17, Echeverri has also appeared for River Plate’s senior team. He has made six total appearances for Los Millonarios and looks to become a key part of the squad next season.
Dubbed the “new Messi,” Echeverri shares many characteristics with the legendary Argentine currently playing in the MLS with Inter Miami. Like the former Barcelona and PSG star, he is a diminutive attacker with exceptional dribbling ability and vision. Despite being right-footed, there is plenty to compare between the two players. While he has a long way to go until being mentioned in the same breath as Messi, Manchester City should be excited about the potential he possesses.
Echeverri’s transfer to City looks quite similar to that of rising star Julián Álvarez, who joined the defending Premier League champions from River Plate in 2022. Like Echeverri, Álvarez initially stayed on loan with River Plate before joining City later that year.
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