On Thursday, journalist César Luis Merlo reported Manchester City have rejected AS Roma’s offer for Claudio Echeverri.
The Italian side had put forward an initial loan deal with a €33m obligation to buy next summer, also including a buy-back clause for Pep Guardiola’s side.
The Italian press have been pretty convinced that the Argentine is keen on moving to the Giallorossi, having also rejected a chance to join Girona.
Some of this confidence was also based on Echeverri engaging with compatriot and Roma player Matias Soule on Instagram.
Now, the Giallorossi star spoke to Il Tempo and was asked directly about Echeverri and a potential move from Manchester City.
Soule denied knowing anything about this and said, via Tuttomercatoweb: “I just asked him how he was, but I really don’t know anything about the transfer market.”
He also revealed that Echeverri never spoke about the idea of joining Roma: “I hadn’t spoken to him in a while, and now he’s replied to me on Instagram, but honestly, I don’t know anything. He didn’t ask me for advice on Rome or Roma.”
This should now dampen some confidence in Italy about signing the 19-year-old from Manchester City.
The talent arrived at the Etihad Stadium in January and has already shown his qualities during the FIFA Club World Cup.
It is difficult to see why Manchester City would want to sell him permanently, especially if he can have a role to play in the first-team next season. That is why a move to Roma now seems unlikely.