Manchester City playmaker Claudio Echeverri spent last season on loan with Bayer Leverkusen and then Girona. A little over a year ago, he made a surprise Manchester City debut off the bench in the FA Cup final. Twelve months on, it is hard to see the 20-year-old being involved in the first-team picture come the new season.
Echeverri's Journey
Echeverri joined City in 2024 before returning to former club River Plate on loan. He arrived in Manchester in January 2025 amid great fanfare given his talent and the excitement around what the future held. Guardiola gave the Argentine his debut ahead of far more senior options at Wembley against Crystal Palace. The playmaker then scored a superb free kick in the Club World Cup before injury ended his tournament.
Loan Struggles
Echeverri moved to Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen on loan last summer but struggled for minutes in Germany. Speaking in November, Guardiola referenced Echeverri's agent, Enzo Montepaone, when asked about the possibility of recalling him in January, delivering a short response that hinted at frustration. “It is a question for his beautiful agent,” Guardiola said. As it was, the loan was cancelled with neither City nor Leverkusen pleased with how it went. Echeverri then went to Girona, who badly wanted him last summer and where City would have ideally sent him.
Limited Impact in Spain
He featured more frequently in Spain, making 17 appearances in La Liga as opposed to the six league matches he played for Leverkusen, but he was unable to force his way into the first-choice XI. As a result, he was not really in the conversation when Argentina announced their World Cup squad.
What Lies Ahead
Echeverri will now be back at City for pre-season and could well tour with the Blues and be given minutes in Asia with so many senior stars at the World Cup. That will offer the youngster a chance to stake his claim, but another loan currently seems the more likely option for the promising playmaker. It is one that needs to be right if City and Echeverri are able to build on that Wembley debut.
