Manchester City have officially announced the arrival of Claudio Echeverri, one of Argentina’s most exciting young talents. The highly-rated midfielder, who signed for City in January 2024, remained on loan at River Plate until the end of last month. Now, he is set to begin his journey in English football, eager to develop under Pep Guardiola and alongside some of the world’s best players.
A Rising Star from Argentina
Claudio Echeverri has been widely regarded as one of South America’s finest young talents. His performances for River Plate and Argentina’s youth teams have drawn comparisons to some of the game’s greats, and his move to Manchester City is seen as the next step in his promising career.
City’s Director of Football, Txiki Begiristain, expressed his excitement about the signing:
“Claudio is one of the finest talents to emerge from South America in recent years. We knew as soon as we watched him that we wanted him to become a Man City player.”
“All the natural elements are there—his touch, technique, eye for goal, dribbling ability. Our job now is to take those attributes and shape Claudio into a world-class player.”
Begiristain emphasized that City will provide Echeverri with everything he needs to succeed, believing that, with hard work and guidance from Guardiola, he can become one of the world’s best.
Echeverri’s Message to City Fans
Echeverri shared his excitement in a heartfelt message to Manchester City fans:
“Hello, City fans! I’m Claudio. I’m very happy to be here! Hopefully, I can play and contribute to the team. Just wanted to say that you have another City fan here, and I’m really excited to be here. Greetings to everyone!”
He also expressed admiration for his new teammates, particularly Jeremy Doku and Erling Haaland, saying:
“I’m a big fan of Jeremy Doku and also Erling Haaland; they are incredible players. I think I will learn a lot from them, they can teach me and motivate me a lot.”
Argentina’s Connection with Manchester City
The bond between Manchester City and Argentina has grown significantly over the years, thanks to legendary figures such as Sergio Aguero, Pablo Zabaleta, and Julian Alvarez. Echeverri is well aware of this rich history and has spoken to former City players about his move.
“I’ve spoken to Aguero, also Martin Demichelis. They told me Man City was a great club with amazing players and a beautiful history.”
“Aguero, in particular, stands out. He’s a legend at Manchester City; everything he achieved, the incredible player he was. I used to watch him and it’s an amazing feeling to be here.”
He also acknowledged the growing reputation of Manchester City in Argentina:
“Yes, I think so. Especially because of the players who have come here and done really well; Kun Aguero, Julian Alvarez, Zabaleta. All very important players. I’m at a great club with a lot of history.”
Inspired by Lionel Messi
As many young Argentine players do, Echeverri idolizes Lionel Messi, describing the World Cup-winning legend as his biggest inspiration:
“My idol has always been Messi; I’ve been watching him since I was very young. Seeing him play is always a motivation because of everything he’s accomplished. Watching him play gives me an extra push, he makes me happy with the way he plays, he’s my idol, I admire him a lot.”
Echeverri on His Playing Style
Echeverri has built a reputation as a creative and fearless attacker. When asked about his game, he described himself as an aggressive dribbler who enjoys taking on defenders:
“I like to attack, go forward, dribble. I also love taking on defenders, getting past them. Hopefully, I can contribute, play well, score a lot.”
He also praised Jeremy Doku and Savinho, saying that he sees similarities between his own style and theirs:
“I’ve watched them. I’m a big fan of Doku. I see myself in them. They’re very dynamic players, as we say in Argentina, ‘very spicy’ with the ball. They always take on defenders, go forward every time. The way they play is something to admire.”
Excited for the Challenge in England
Although Echeverri is aware of the challenges ahead, he believes he is ready for English football:
“I think I’m ready [for English football], but obviously I need to train with the Man City team and improve. Hopefully, the adaptation period will be short so I can start playing soon.”
The young playmaker is eager to prove himself at City and is looking forward to playing a role in their pursuit of further success:
“Football has been my life. My dream was to play for one of the best teams in Europe. Today I’m closer to that dream. Manchester City are one of the best in the world. Not only do they win trophies, but they play so beautifully. They’re an example to everyone.”
“To be part of this team and culture at City – and use this as my basis to develop my game – is something I’m really excited about. My family and I are so proud to be here. My focus now is on working as hard as I can in training to show the manager and staff I’m good enough to be part of this team.”
Echeverri Takes the No. 30 Shirt 👕 
Echeverri will wear the No. 30 shirt at Manchester City, a number previously worn by notable players including Nicolas Otamendi and Nery Castillo. The full list of City’s last seven No. 30s includes:
•🇦🇷 Claudio Echeverri
•🇦🇷 Nicolas Otamendi
•🇷🇴 Costel Pantilimon
•🏴 Shay Logan
•🇲🇽 Nery Castillo
•🇮🇹 Bernardo Corradi
•🇫🇷 Christian Negouai
What’s Next for Echeverri?
As Echeverri settles into life at Manchester City, fans will be eager to see how he adapts to the Premier League and Guardiola’s tactical system. His creativity, dribbling ability, and eye for goal make him an exciting prospect, and with the right development, he could become a key player for the club in the years to come.
For now, the young Argentine is focused on training hard, integrating into the squad, and proving himself at one of the world’s most demanding clubs. City fans will be watching closely as Claudio Echeverri begins his journey at the Etihad Stadium.
