<p><strong>River Plate’s Claudio Echeverri is on the verge of joining<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/manchester-city"> Manchester City</a></strong>, according to reports in the British press. The 18-year-old Argentine midfielder’s move to the Premier League champions follows a highly successful period with River Plate, but comes as the club is struggling for form.</p>



<p>Echeverri’s departure marks the end of his time at <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/river-plate">River Plate</a>, at least for the foreseeable future. The young midfielder will not play another home match for River Plate until further notice, as the team struggles for form under manager Óscar García Junyent.</p>



<p><strong>The move to Manchester City is anticipated to happen in January</strong>. The English media portrays Echeverri as a potential game-changer for a City side currently experiencing a period of underperformance, compounded by a significant injury list. The expectation is that Echeverri’s arrival will inject fresh talent and energy into the team.</p>



<h2>The “new Messi” hype</h2>



<p><em>The Sun</em> described the anticipation surrounding Echeverri’s arrival: <em>“Guardiola will unleash the <strong>‘new Lionel Messi’</strong> straight into Manchester City’s struggling squad next month… 18-year-old Argentine star Claudio Echeverri arrives from River Plate, a year after a transfer deal was completed.” </em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20241210_WST_543496_Claudio-Echeverri-1200x675_85714ce4.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-543510" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/10101350/Claudio-Echeverri-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/10101350/Claudio-Echeverri-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/10101350/Claudio-Echeverri-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/10101350/Claudio-Echeverri-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/10101350/Claudio-Echeverri-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/10101350/Claudio-Echeverri-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/10101350/Claudio-Echeverri-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/10101350/Claudio-Echeverri.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<p>The article highlights the significance of this signing for Manchester City’s future, particularly given the club’s current struggle to qualify for the next UEFA Champions League.</p>



<p><strong>The possibility of a loan move to Girona has been previously discussed</strong>. However, Manchester City’s need for immediate reinforcements has led to a change in plans. The report states that Guardiola wants Echeverri for the second half of the season.</p>


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<p>Before his departure, <strong>Echeverri will play one last match for River Plate: an away game against Racing Club de Avellaneda on December 15th</strong>. His move to the Premier League is imminent. The English media is already referring to him as “the new Messi,” creating significant hype around his arrival.</p>


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Guardiola's Manchester City signs new player dubbed the 'next Messi,' who will join the first team upon arrival

Guardiola's Manchester City signs new player dubbed the 'next Messi,' who will join the first team upon arrival - World Soccer Talk

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<p>Manchester City is re-upping young talent by purchasing Claudio Echeverri. The 17-year-old River Plate sensation is one of the brightest talents coming out of South America, and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/manchester-city-tv-schedule/">Manchester City</a> has had recent success dipping into the Argentine Primera. For example, the club purchased <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/the-rapid-rise-of-julian-alvarez-on-the-world-cup-stage-20221217-WST-412412.html">Julian Alvarez</a> from River Plate in January 2022. In his lone season in Manchester, Alvarez <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/manchester-city-top-inter-to-grab-elusive-ucl-title-complete-treble-20230610-WST-437138.html">won the treble</a> and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/argentina-win-world-cup-in-one-of-the-classic-finals-of-all-time-20221218-WST-412674.html">the World Cup</a>. He scored 17 goals in his first season with Manchester City.</p>



<p>Now, Echeverri appears to be an elite talent of the future. Manchester City is spending <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/dec/27/manchester-city-agree-25m-deal-to-sign-teenager-claudio-echeverri-from-river-plate" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">$27 million</a> to bring the Argentine to English shores, but he will not join right away. Manchester City is allowing Echeverri to continue his development in the Argentine Primera and the Copa Libertadores. The midfielder is signing a contract similar to <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/alvarez-strike-hands-man-city-narrow-win-against-newcastle-20230819-WST-451110.html">that of Alvarez</a>. He will join Manchester City officially in the January transfer window. However, the club will immediately send him out on loan to River Plate. He will remain with the Argentine side for a year before joining Manchester City. </p>



<p>Echeverri made a name for himself at the recent U-17 World Cup, where he represented Argentina. As a midfielder, Echeverri scored five goals for Argentina. Pundits voted Echeverri as the third-best player at the tournament despite Argentina finishing fourth. With River Plate, Echeverri made his debut with the first team. In his four appearances in league play, Echeverri already logged an assist.</p>



<h2>An open spot for Echeverri at Manchester City?</h2>



<p>Manchester City may be an ideal landing spot for Echeverri for two reasons. On one hand, the club has a knack for propping up young talent. Much of that has happened in recent seasons with products coming out of the Manchester City academy. Rico Lewis and Phil Foden have emerged as regular starters in Pep Guardiola’s squad. Also, four of the players are aged 21 and younger.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Manchester City has signed Argentina wunderkind Claudio Echeverri from River Plate for $27 million. He&apos;ll stay with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/River?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#River</a> next season on loan. 🇦🇷<br><br>Here&apos;s a taste of him scoring a hat trick for Argentina in the u17 World Cup <a href="https://t.co/5BHmjdlY8G">pic.twitter.com/5BHmjdlY8G</a></p>— World Soccer Talk (@worldsoccertalk) <a href="https://twitter.com/worldsoccertalk/status/1740037254448566409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>Secondly, one of the attacking midfielders in the Manchester City ranks could be on his way out. Kalvin Phillips is a frequent transfer rumor to be leaving Manchester City either in January or at the end of the current campaign. While Echeverri traditionally plays in an attacking midfielder role, Pep Guardiola trains players to switch around positions to fit their talents. Take John Stones as an example. He can play anywhere along the back line or in the midfield.</p>



<h2>City otherwise quiet in the transfer market</h2>



<p>The acquisition of Echeverri is one of the few moves Manchester City is making in the upcoming transfer window. Pep Guardiola’s side has dealt with a few major injuries this season that may contribute to the side’s struggles. Notably, Kevin de Bruyne has been out for most of the season with muscle injuries. </p>



<p>Signing Echeverri as a player for the future could be Manchester City’s preparation to move on from Kevin de Bruyne. When he is healthy, the Belgian is unequivocally one of the best players in the world. His absence from Manchester City’s squad has been noticeable. De Bruyne’s <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/epl/manchester-city-fc/kevin-de-bruyne-22865/#:~:text=Current%20Contract,cap%20hit%20of%20%C2%A320%2C800%2C000." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">contract expires</a> at the end of the 2024/25 season. Therefore, Echeverri will have the opportunity to gain experience under the Belgian.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO</em>.</p>

Manchester City drops $27 million on Argentine teenager

Manchester City is re-upping young talent by purchasing Claudio Echeverri, a 17-year-old playing for River Plate in Argentina.

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Manchester City drops $27 million on Argentine teenager