Can Man City's youngster dubbed 'next Lionel Messi' save them?
He will join Guardiola's team in January
Manchester City is preparing to welcome one of Argentina’s brightest young talents, Claudio Echeverri, into their first-team training on January 1.
Often compared to Lionel Messi, the 18-year-old attacking midfielder was signed from River Plate earlier this year after City beat several top European clubs to secure his signature.
Initially, Echeverri was set to join City permanently in 2025 after completing his loan at River Plate, followed by a stint at Girona. However, injuries to key City players like Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, and Jack Grealish have prompted Pep Guardiola to fast-track Echeverri’s arrival.
Di Maria said about him: "You can see he's got some fire in him. He's got a lot to give. We've already been seeing it. It's nice that the coaching staff gives these types of opportunities to the little ones to be able to enjoy with the older ones in this beautiful moment that we are living in."
Claudio, however, also has some weaknesses.
Martin Demichelis, the former City defender and Echeverri’s coach during his time at River Plate, previously expressed concerns about the youngster's physicality.
He said: "Nobody doubts Claudio’s technical abilities and his intelligence that allows him to solve all sorts of difficult situations."
"But from a physical standpoint, the first phase was very difficult for him. When I joined River, I knew Echeverri was a diamond in the rough to be cut and polished."
