Newly signed Man City WONDERKID set for Girona loan spell

Manchester City’s latest Argentinian sensation, Claudio Echeverri, is set to join fellow CFG-owned club Girona on loan in January 2025 according to a report from Argentina.

It’s yet to be confirmed whether the attacker will move on a six-month loan deal or for a longer duration.

City announced the signing of the River Plate wonderkid back in January on a contract until 2028 but confirmed he would be remaining with the Buenos Aires giants until January 2025.

But it will be Girona who will have the first look at the teenage talent when he arrives in Europe, with a LaLiga loan spell lined up.

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That’s according to the latest Radio Continental report, who also claim that City director Joan Patsy is in Buenos Aires to tie up the signing of Uruguayan winger Luciano Rodriguez from Liverpool Montevideo.

Por la info que manejamos, se reafirma lo de #Echeverri al Girona de España para enero del '25.
Joan Patsy, el director del City Group, esta en Buenos Aires tratando de cerrar el pase de Luciano Rodriguez para junio. #RiverPlate pic.twitter.com/RB7VJyrHG9

— Sebastián Srur (@Sebasrur) March 22, 2024

Echeverri was given his debut by River manager, and former City defender, Martin Demichelis last summer and has gone on to make 13 appearances in all competitions for the Millonarios since then.

Echeverri the breakout star

He scored his first goal for his hometown club in a Copa de la Liga clash against Gimnasia last weekend - a stunning individual effort which earned the praise of City legend and compatriot Sergio Aguero.

Claudio echeverri 😎 pic.twitter.com/ArQlbDJsxw

— Sergio Kun Aguero (@aguerosergiokun) March 17, 2024

City are believed to have paid an initial €14 million for a player nicknamed “the Little Devil” amid interest from Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Chelsea.

There had been a Europe-wide clamour for his signature ever since he broke out at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup last year. He claimed the Bronze Ball as third top-scorer and Argentina finished fourth.

River fans enraged by Echeverri sale

The youngster had caused consternation among the club’s fans back in December when it was reported that he had turned down a new contract offer which would have seen his buyout clause jump to around €50m.

He instead instigated negotiations with the treble winners, who have good relations with River owing to the Demichelis connection and recent talks over the transfer of Julian Alvarez.

That move infuriated River fans, who were frustrated at losing a potentially world-class talent for a minimal fee, and one who had barely featured in the first team by that point.

Girona and City have mutually benefitted from the arrangement in recent months with Savio, on loan at Girona from Troyes, securing a permanent move to City and Girona having Yan Couto on loan.

The Catalan side are also contenders to sign Shakhtar Donetsk wonderkid Heorhii Sudakov.