Manchester City stand firm on Claudio Echeverri plans for new season | OneFootball

Officials at Manchester City are standing firm on their plans for Claudio Echeverri ahead of the brand new season, amid ambitious interest from AS Roma.

The 19-year-old Argentine playmaker has been on Manchester City’s radar since his breakout performances at River Plate, joining the club in January before making a handful of first-team appearances, including in the FA Cup Final and the FIFA Club World Cup.

However, while Claudio Echeverri is still seen as a long-term investment for the club, officials believe he still needs time to adapt to European football before becoming a regular feature under Pep Guardiola.

Recent reporting from journalist César Luis Merlo shed further light on the situation, revealing that AS Roma tabled a one-season loan proposal that included a €33 million mandatory buy option and a buy-back clause in Manchester City’s favour. While the Serie A side saw this as a win-win arrangement, City were unmoved, rejecting the bid outright.

The Premier League giants’ stance mirrors their strategy with other emerging talents, with loans to City Football Group clubs often preferred to ensure alignment in playing style and development priorities. Girona, who have impressed in La Liga under Míchel, remain the most likely destination due to their Guardiola-inspired tactical approach.

Now, according to the information of Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo – as translated and relayed by Sport Witness – Manchester City rejected AS Roma’s offer this week as they did not sign Claudio Echeverri to ‘generate immediate financial returns’.

As such, the Premier League side’s plan is to help the Argentine midfielder further adjust to European football and City Football Group’s Girona appear to be the ‘most solid’ option, with manager Míchel’s playing style similar to that of Pep Guardiola’s at the Etihad Stadium.

While the report indicates that the Argentine’s preference is to join Roma this summer, the player has neither imposed any conditions nor has he rejected Girona, while City ‘are not considering any other scenario’ apart from sending him to the La Liga club.

Should City finalise a Girona loan, Echeverri would follow in the footsteps of other young talents who have benefitted from temporary moves to the Catalans before stepping into more prominent roles back in Manchester, whilst also joining Vitor Reis at the club this summer.

The expectation is that a successful season in Spain’s top flight will accelerate his readiness for the Premier League’s intensity and tactical demands. That said, AS Roma’s persistence cannot be ruled out at this stage.

The Italian club’s willingness to offer a sizeable future fee, coupled with the potential lure of Serie A football, means further approaches before the transfer window closes remain possible. For now, though, Manchester City’s stance is resolute.