After waiting a year, Claudio Echeverri was surprised by Manchester City officials’ decision to leave the Etihad Stadium during the current summer transfer window, based on the vision of coach Pep Guardiola.
City bought Echeverri, dubbed the “New Messi,” in the winter of 2024 for €18.5 million from River Plate. The player spent last year with his Argentine club before joining Guardiola’s squad in January 2025.
According to The Sun, Guardiola is not convinced by Echeverri and believes the best option for him at the moment is to go on loan to another European club to gain more experience, then return to City next year in a better light.
Since arriving at City, Echeverri has made only three appearances over six months, which explains why Guardiola believes he needs more experience and physical strength to be ready for the toughest competition in the Premier League.
The 19-year-old Echeverri has two offers on his table: one from French giants Lyon and the other from Girona. City’s management hopes he’ll move to the Spanish club, given that the style of play there is similar to Guardiola’s.
City Football Group, which owns 100% of Manchester City, owns a 47% stake in Girona. The Catalan club has been City’s second-string team in recent years, so the Argentine’s arrival would be the perfect preparation for his return to the Etihad Stadium.
