- Man City signed Argentine wonderkid Claudio Echeverri from River Plate in 2024
- The 19-year-old attacking midfielder remained on loan at the club for 12 months
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off!, available wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Monday and Thursday
Argentine wonderkid Claudio Echeverri has officially been unveiled by Manchester City, 13 months after joining the club.
Echeverri, 19, agreed to join City from River Plate for £12.5million last January, but remained on loan at the club for a year.
The attacking midfielder, who has been touted in some quarters as the ‘next Lionel Messi’, has impressed for the Argentine giants , making 48 appearances across the past two seasons, scoring four goals and adding eight assists.
The 19-year-old’s stock rose further when he was the driving force during Argentina Under-20s run to the final at the South American Championships in January.
Captaining the side, Echeverri netted six goals and recorded three assists during the tournament.
Mail Sport reported on Monday how Echeverri was set to train with City for the first time later this week ahead of potentially being involved against Plymouth in the FA Cup on Saturday.
Claudio Echeverri has been unveiled by Manchester City, 13 months after joining the club
Echeverri joined City from River Plate last January, but remained in Argentina for 12 months
Last month he starred for Argentina’s Under-20 side at the South American Championships
And on Thursday, City officially unveiled Echeverri to fans, announcing he had joined up with Pep Guardiola’s squad for the first time.
He is set to be with City for the rest of the season, before the club determine Echeverri’s next steps.
Speaking following his unveiling, Echeverri, who has penned a contract until 2028, expressed his delight.
‘I cannot tell you how excited I am to be here in Manchester and to finally be able to call myself a Manchester City player,’ he said.
‘Football has been my life, and my dream was to play for one of the best teams in Europe. Today I am closer to that dream.
‘Manchester City are one of the best teams in the world. Not only do they win trophies, they play the game so beautifully. They are an example to everyone – they show people how to play football the best way.
‘My focus now is on working as hard as I can in training to show the manager and his staff I am good enough to be part of this team.’
City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain added: ‘Claudio is one of the finest talents to emerge from South America in recent years.
Echeverri has penned a contract until 2028 with City and expressed his excitement
In some quarters, the attacking midfielder, 19, has been dubbed as the ‘next Lionel Messi’
Echeverri will be a part of Pep Guardiola’s City’s squad for the final few months of the season
‘We knew as soon as we watched him play we wanted him to become a Manchester City player.
‘All the natural elements are there – his touch, technique, eye for goal and dribbling ability. Our job now is to take those attributes and shape Claudio into a world-class player.
‘We will provide him with everything he needs to become the best he can be. If he works hard, listens to Pep and gives absolutely everything, I see no reason why he cannot become a top player.’
Echeverri, who was handed his River Plate debut by former City defender Martin Demichelis, also shone at the Under 17 World Cup in 2023, scoring five goals. This included a hat-trick against Argentina’s arch-rivals Brazil.
City head into their FA Cup clash with Plymouth on Saturday fresh off beating Tottenham 1-0 in the Premier League on Wednesday as Guardiola’s side rose back into the top four.
