Manchester City Secures £20 Million Deal for Argentine Prodigy Claudio Echeverri, Eying Next Messi

Manchester City, the reigning Premier League champions, have successfully secured a £20 million ($25 million) deal for Argentine wonderkid Claudio Echeverri, fending off competition from European giants Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Paris Saint-Germain. The 17-year-old forward, often dubbed “the next Lionel Messi,” is set to join Pep Guardiola’s squad in a move that signals City’s commitment to nurturing young talent.

The breakthrough in negotiations was reported by the reputable football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, who confirmed that Manchester City had beaten out their rivals in pursuing Echeverri. Despite interest from Paris Saint-Germain, City inked the deal, marking a significant coup for the Premier League champions.

Echeverri’s talent came to the fore on the international stage, notably during the recent U17 World Cup, where he showcased his skills with a memorable hat-trick in a quarter-final clash against Brazil. Despite Argentina finishing fourth in the tournament, Echeverri’s prowess in attack earned him widespread recognition.

According to Romano, the £20 million deal with River Plate includes a net fixed fee of €14.5 million (£12.5 million/$13.5 million) and additional performance-related add-ons totaling €9 million (£7.7 million/$9.8 million). While the young talent is expected to remain at River Plate until at least the summer, extending his stay until the end of 2024 is possible to gain more first-team experience.

City’s successful relationship with River Plate, established during the transfer of Julian Alvarez in 2022, played a pivotal role in securing Echeverri. The Premier League side is focusing on Echeverri and reportedly keeping an eye on two other River Plate prospects, Agustin Ruberto and Ian Subiabre. Both players, who impressed during the U17 World Cup, have attracted interest from various clubs, including Brighton and Hove Albion, Tottenham, Real Madrid, and Barcelona.

This move echoes the City’s commitment to investing in emerging talents, with Echeverri potentially following in the footsteps of Julian Alvarez. Moreover, the Argentine forward has expressed aspirations of a career path similar to Messi, hinting at the possibility of a future move to Barcelona. As the football world eagerly anticipates the rise of Claudio Echeverri, Manchester City’s acquisition underscores their dedication to building a formidable team for the future.