Claudio Echeverri is set to join Manchester City in January (Image: Getty)
Manchester City could introduce the young player, often referred to as the next Lionel Messi, to the Premier League in the New Year. The club had initially planned to loan Argentine star Claudio Echeverri to Spanish sister club Girona upon his arrival from River Plate in January.
However, due to fitness issues with Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish, the Premier League champions are reconsidering their plans, according to the Mirror. This could result in Echeverri being immediately added to Pep Guardiola’s squad as the manager seeks to inject some energy into a team that has been underperforming recently.
Echeverri, who turns 19 on January 2, is an attacking midfielder likened to Barcelona legend Messi in his native Argentina. The right-footed attacking midfielder, who secured a £13.5million deal to join City last winter, captained Argentina in the Under-17s World Cup and is predicted to become a star.
Echeverri has been allowed to continue his development at River Plate this year. However, a request by the Buenos Aires giants to keep him until after next summer’s Club World Cup in the United States was rejected by Etihad bosses.
City originally thought that loaning him to Girona would help Echeverri adjust to Europe and the La Liga side playing in the Champions League. However, the Catalan club is struggling to qualify for the knock-out stages of the tournament.
De Bruyne, Foden and Grealish have all had significant spells on the bench this season as City have grappled with a lack of creativity. Echeverri, known in South America as El Diablito – the Little Devil, is believed to be capable of stirring up some trouble in a Sky Blue shirt after the New Year.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1985879/Man-City-next-Lionel-Messi-Premier-League