Claudio Echeverri names Manchester City teammate who helped adaptation from River Plate | OneFootball

Manchester City’s rising star from Argentina Claudio Echeverri has revealed one teammate at the Etihad Stadium that significantly aided his settling in process.

Echeverri joined forces with Pep Guardiola in January – a year on from signing for Manchester City but spending the subsequent 12 months back at River Plate – a path previously trodden by former City and now Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez.

An Argentina U-20 international, Echeverri is yet to make a first-team appearance for Manchester City and it remains likely that he will be sent on loan for the 2025-26 campaign to gain regular first-team football and progress his development.

Manchester City will see upheaval in the attacking midfield positions come the summer transfer window and club officials are targeting a double swoop for Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White to collectively replace Kevin De Bruyne, who will be leaving at the end of the season.

Guardiola has reflected well on Echeverri from what he has seen of the teenager in training so far but it remains unlikely the Argentinian will be given his first-team debut anytime soon as Manchester City look to secure a third-place Premier League finish and win the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace.

Speaking as part of a wide-ranging conversation with Manchester City’s official club website, Claudio Echeverri first revealed his delight at playing for the four-in-a-row Premier League champions who boast a wealth of talent and history.

“I’m very happy to be here,” Echeverri insisted, despite still awaiting his first senior Manchester City appearance. The teenager continued, “My teammates welcomed me very well.

“I was very nervous because there are a lot of high-level players here, great players with a lot of history. It’s really great and being here makes me immensely happy.”

The 19-year-old is believed to have formed a close friendship with Manchester City Academy graduate Oscar Bobb, with the Norwegian now a fully-fledged member of Pep Guardiola’s senior plans.

“He welcomed me a lot, helped me adapt when I first arrived here, and over the next few days we spoke in Spanish – he speaks really well,” Echeverri said of Bobb.

“I am honestly very happy because he’s a great person,” he continued.

Manchester City have witnessed a growing academy presence in the first-team in recent seasons, with Nico O’Reilly and James McAtee the latest graduates making an impact in Guardiola’s squad after breaking through this term.

Echeverri is still very new to life in England and it remains the most certain path for him to go out on loan next season and gain regular first-team football experience to stake a greater claim to break into Manchester City’s first-team in the years to come.