Manchester City midfielder Claudio Echeverri is a target for Roma this summer, though Girona are also in the picture for the Argentine.
It remains to be seen what City plan to do with Claudio Echeverri this season, with some reports claiming he’ll be loaned out and others suggesting he’ll stick around.
It was reported this week that Guardiola could keep Echeverri at Man City for the upcoming season, so the 19-year-old can learn from Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush.
However, another report has suggested City are hoping they can get Echeverri to Girona for the season, even though he’d prefer a move to a Champions League or Europa League side.
Now, a report from the continent has claimed that Roma have taken a decisive step in order to try and convince City to send Echeverri their way.
Claudio Echeverri celebrates his goal at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images
Roma official travels to UK to try and seal Claudio Echeverri loan move
Portugal’s O Jogo, citing reports from Italy, claims that a Roma official has travelled to the English capital to try and seal a deal for Echeverri this summer.
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The Giallorossi are looking to secure a loan agreement for Echeverri and are deemed a ‘strong competitor’ for Girona to have to deal with.
Girona recently completed a move for Vitor Reis, and Echeverri was expected to follow the same path, but they have to contend with strong competition.
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Pep Guardiola’s Claudio Echeverri ‘secret’
Pep Guardiola has described Echeverri as an “incredible player” and, at 19 years of age, he certainly has the potential to become a top player at City.
Guardiola rates Echeverri so highly that he brought him on during the FA Cup final last season, while also handing the youngster minutes at the FIFA Club World Cup.
“I want to tell you a secret,” Guardiola said of Echeverri at the Club World Cup after he scored a superb free kick against Al-Ain.
“Last season, when he arrived, after every training session he practiced free-kicks alone! So always; work pays off!
“If you score a goal, it’s because he practiced! When the other guys don’t practice, they don’t score goals.”
However, with Omar Marmoush ahead of him in the City pecking order and Erling Haaland all-but guaranteed a starting spot when fit, Echeverri may struggle for regular game time.
With that in mind, City seem keen to send Echeverri out on loan to get him regular playing time and experience, even if this has worried City fans regarding Echeverri’s long-term future.
It remains to be seen where Echeverri will be playing though, with Roma and Girona in pursuit and Lyon having also shown an interest in Echeverri this summer.