Failure Consummated? City sends Claudio Echeverri on loan to Leverkusen

What looked like a great signing for Manchester City is about to become, in principle, a failed bet. And that is that Claudio Echeverri will play the 2025/26 season on loan at Bayer Leverkusen managed by Erik Ten Hag.

According to recent reports, the loan does not include a purchase option. Also, the German team will fully assume the salary of the Argentine player.

The 'Little Devil' is not in Pep Guardiola's immediate plans, which sparked the interest of several European clubs in these last days of the summer market. The English team considered the possibility of loaning him to Girona, an entity that is part of the City Football Group, as a way to facilitate his adaptation to European football. 

In addition, Roma also showed interest in incorporating the attacking midfielder who arrived from River Plate, proposing an agreement with a future buy-back clause, a formula that did not quite convince the 'Citizens' board.

City and the risk of signing promises: Echeverri pays the consequences

Manchester City signed 'Little Devil' Echeverri for a figure of around 25 million euros. However, now the player of just 19 years old pays the consequences of not allowing the development of his full potential in the 'millionaire' team, where he had recurring minutes in the first team.

And in fact, with River Plate, the now '30' of the 'citizen' team participated in 42 matches (2,321 minutes), in which he managed to score 4 goals and assist in 6 opportunities during the 2023/24 season.

It should be noted that the player signed with City in January 2024, but it was agreed that he would stay in the 'rojiblanco' team until mid-February of this year.

The player landed in England after having an unforgettable South American U-20 Championship with Argentina, as he scored 6 goals in 9 matches with the 'albiceleste' team, where Brazil was crowned champion.

Redemption knocks on Echeverri's door

In this order of ideas, the loan of Claudio Echeverri to Bayer Leverkusen could serve to relaunch his career and demonstrate his quality, which in Argentine football was envied by all of River's rivals.

The 'Little Devil' in City could only participate in 4 matches (64 minutes) in the 2024/25 season, which was enough for him to score a goal in the Club World Cup.

In 'Die Werkself' he will meet his national team teammate, Exequiel Palacios. In addition, the offensive midfielder entered Lionel Scaloni's call-up for the last two matches for the South American Qualifiers.