'New Lionel Messi' joining Man City as Pep Guardiola's transfer demands are met
Argentina's hottest young prospect is set to join Manchester City in January, as Pep Guardiola's side look to turn their season around with a new arrival
Claudio Echeverri has confirmed he will join Manchester City in January after Pep Guardiola tore up his initial plans for the young talent due to his team's dire run of form.
Echeverri, who was snapped up by Guardiola's big spenders a year ago from River Plate for £12.5million, had been on loan at the Argentine club, mirroring the path taken by Julian Alvarez in 2022. City's original intention was to send the 18-year-old on loan to their Spanish affiliate Girona upon his arrival in January.
However, an injury crisis and the fact the champions are slumped in seventh in the Premier League after a woeful season so far has forced Guardiola to change course, and now Echeverri - likened to his World Cup winning compatriot the Barcelona legend Lionel Messi - is set to join the senior squad straight away.
Guardiola, eager for a turnaround after a dismal streak of just one victory in 12 matches, will welcome the early integration of Echeverri into the team. After playing his last match for River, Echeverri expressed his gratitude.
He said: "I wanted to thank you for the support I have always had since I was a kid, in the club where my videos began to be known, I wanted to thank you for the affection with me and my family, grateful to River, with you, with the club, the people who work at the club.
"It's something unique, very nice to be here, to play for River when I was so young, at the age of 17, when I was lucky enough to make my debut. Thank you for always being with us, the stadium is full every game and I hope I can return soon." reports the Mirror.
The youngster said: "Today I have to say goodbye to the club of my life, the one I joined at a very young age with a lot of dreams to fulfil. River became my second home, the club that formed me not only as a professional but also as a person."I want to thank the fans, teammates, coaching staff, leaders and people who work at the club for all these years. Also, to my family and friends, none of this would have been the same without them.
"I'm going to miss them and I'm going to continue being another fan wherever I have to be. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and see you soon."Guardiola will certainly hope the teenager lives up to his promise in the years to come having scored four goals and notched six assists for River in 2024, despite the club struggling to a fifth place finish. City are planning to give him time to settle in England however.In his homeland however, fans are predicting Echeverri will follow in the footsteps of the legendary Messi after agreeing a switch to the Citizens. The hot prospect will celebrate his nineteenth birthday next week and is tipped to team up with his new side in the New Year.