Argentina youth international Claudio Echeverri completed his permanent move to Premier League champions Manchester City, a year after signing for the English club before returning to River Plate on loan. (More Football News)
🎃The 19-year-old Echeverri, who was recently seen in action for the U-20 side, will add more youthful energy to an ailing City squad which was freshened in the winter transfer window with the arrival of five mostly young players.
🌳Plying his role as an attacking midfielder, Echeverri was in action at the South American Under-20 Championship, where he netted six goals in nine games for Argentina to be the second highest scorer in the tournament.
ꦗ“Football has been my life,” Echeverri said in the video posted by Man City, “and my dream was to play for one of the best teams in Europe. Today I am closer to that dream. “Manchester City are one of the best teams in the world. Not only do they win trophies, they play the game so beautifully.”
🐷Here's all you need to know about one of the hottest property on the planet:
𓆏Echeverri was born in 2006 in Resistencia, which is the capital of the Chaco province of north-east Argentina. The youngster started out at a local amateur side named Deportivo Lujan but impressed the coaches of River Plate when on a trial.
꧟At just 11 years old, Echeverri already started making headlines across the world. A 2017 piece in Clarin stated how the Argentine youngster stood out in a seven-a-side youth tournament game held in Venice, Italy that also boasted talents from the likes of Atletico Madrid, Ajax, Juventus and Chelsea.
🅰Echeverri scored four goals past Juventus and ended the tourney with nine goals from six matches. In October 2022, Echeverri made his debut for River Plate's reserves team at 16 years of age and scored a goal against Patronato.
▨That earned him his first-ever professional contract from the club and slowly, Echeverri made his way through the first team and earned four senior professional appearances.
👍His performances at the U-17 World Cup has earned Echeverri comparisons with his countryman Lionel Messi. Echeverri is an attacking midfielder by trade unlike the diminutive Argentinian, Echeverri is right-footed and possesses a low centre of gravity dribbling style.
𒆙His performances at River Plate has earned him the nickname 'El Diablito'. Echeverri has signed a contract until 2028 and will be part of Manchester City's squad for the remainder of the season.
(with AP inputs)
