Man City’s £12.5m Wonderkid Claudio Echeverri Set for First-Team Integration

Teen Sensation Overcomes Injury to Join Manchester City Squad

• Echeverri signed for Man City in January 2024 for £12.5m.
• Spent a year on loan at River Plate before joining the club this winter.
• Recovered from an ankle injury and now set for first-team integration.

Manchester City’s exciting young talent, Claudio Echeverri, is finally set to begin his journey at the Etihad after recovering from an ankle injury sustained during international duty with Argentina.

Despite concerns over his fitness, the 19-year-old attacking midfielder has confirmed he is fully fit and ready to start adapting to life under Pep Guardiola.

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Claudio Echeverri’s Journey to Manchester City

Signed for £12.5m Amid European Competition

Echeverri was one of the most sought-after young players in world football when Manchester City secured his signature in January 2024. The Premier League champions fought off competition from several European giants to land the highly rated River Plate graduate.

As part of the agreement, Echeverri remained at River Plate on loan for the entirety of 2024 before officially joining Man City in the 2025 winter transfer window.

Impressive Performances at U-20 South American Championship

Rather than immediately linking up with his new club, Echeverri joined Argentina’s U-20 squad for the Under-20 South American Championship, where he excelled:

• 9 appearances
• 6 goals
• 3 assists
• Captain of Argentina’s U-20 team

His standout moment came against Brazil, where he scored a coolly taken penalty, but had to leave the pitch due to an ankle injury in the final 20 minutes.

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Ankle Injury Scare – But No Long-Term Concerns

Initial Fears of a Sprain

After the match against Brazil, early reports suggested that Echeverri had suffered a grade one sprain, raising concerns over a potential delay to his Manchester City debut.

However, the youngster quickly dismissed any worries, stating:

“I’m fine with my ankle. In the match against Colombia, they stepped on me, and I was left with discomfort. I played like that throughout the Sudamericana.”

Echeverri returned for Argentina’s final match against Paraguay, proving he had no lingering fitness issues.

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What’s Next for Echeverri at Manchester City?

Now back at Manchester, the talented playmaker will begin training at Etihad Campus, where he will:

• Adjust to Guardiola’s system and tactical demands.
• Compete for first-team opportunities alongside City’s stacked midfield.
• Continue his development under elite coaching staff.

With City facing a long season across multiple competitions, Echeverri could soon make his debut, offering another exciting attacking option for Pep Guardiola.

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Can Echeverri Break Into Guardiola’s Squad?

Will Claudio Echeverri get first-team minutes this season, or will City opt to send him on loan for further development?

Drop your thoughts in the comments! 👇