Man City plans for 19-year-old Argentine talent 'confirmed' | OneFootball

Claudio Echeverri has been tipped to link up with Manchester City from next month, having spent the past year on loan at home in Argentina.

City secured a deal for Echeverri, worth a reported £12.5m plus add-ons to selling club River Plate, last January. The attacking midfielder had celebrated his 18th birthday just over three weeks earlier and so could have made the switch to Manchester right away, but it was considered best for his development to stay where he was and continue to play in familiar surroundings in 2024.

That loan back to River Plate came to an end at the conclusion of the Argentine club season in November, with Echeverri able to have some time off and then report for international duty.

The 19-year-old is set to be part of Argentina's squad for the upcoming South American Under-20 Championship in Venezuela. Fabrizio Romano reports that the "confirmed" plan is for him to be available for City once the tournament is over.

Echeverri turned 19 this month / Daniel Jayo/GettyImages

Things will kick off on 23 January, with Argentina among the favourites alongside fellow continental football heavyweights Brazil and Uruguay. The end of the competition, which is a two-stage round-robin rather than a group stage and knockout bracket, will be on 16 February. Due to the format, Argentina and every other nation will remain in the tournament until the very end.

The championship also doubles as South American qualifying for this year's Under-20 World Cup in September and October, which Echeverri would also expect to play in if Argentina get there.

The teenager made 41 appearances for River Plate across 2024, starting the majority.

At City, he will find an ageing squad with 12 players now 29 or older - Rodri will make that 13 by the time he recovers from long-term injury in the summer. Echeverri represents part of the new era as Pep Guardiola is tasked with the first dismantling and rebuild project of his managerial career.

The Catalan coach has called for his club to be active in the upcoming winter window, with a number of elite midfielders named as potential reinforcements alongside Echeverri.