Claudio Echeverri set to join Manchester City in January (Image: Getty)
Manchester City could introduce the young player, often called the next Lionel Messi, to the Premier League in the new year. The club had initially planned to loan Argentine star Claudio Echeverri to Spanish sister club Girona upon his arrival from River Plate in January.
However, due to fitness concerns with Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish, the Premier League champions are reconsidering their plans, according to the Mirror. This could result in the immediate addition of Echeverri to Pep Guardiola's squad, as the manager looks to inject some energy into a team that has recently underperformed.
Echeverri, who turns 19 on January 2, is an attacking midfielder comparable to Barcelona legend Messi in his native Argentina. The right-footed attacking midfielder, who earned a £13.5 million deal to join City last winter, captained Argentina at the Under-17 World Cup and is expected to become a star.
Echeverri has been allowed to continue his development at River Plate this year. However, the Buenos Aires giants' request to keep him on until after next summer's Club World Cup in the United States has been rejected by Etihad bosses.
City originally thought loaning him to Girona would help Echeverri adapt to Europe and the La Liga side playing in the Champions League. However, the Catalan club is struggling to qualify for the round of 16 of the tournament.
De Bruyne, Foden and Grealish have all had significant spells on the bench this season as City struggled with a lack of creativity. Echeverri, known in South America as El Diablito – the Little Devil, is supposedly capable of causing trouble in a sky blue shirt after the New Year.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1985879/Man-City-next-Lionel-Messi-Premier-League