Manchester City have loaned out a young player who has been described as exactly the kind of footballer that fans go to matches to see in person.
Manchester City boast talent all across the board, from the senior squad to the various academy setups.
In addition, the Citizens have invested a lot in young players who are already prepared to challenge for a first-team spot.
One such player has just left the Etihad Stadium on a straight loan deal, and his new club’s technical director is buzzing about having landed his services.
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Claudio Echeverri in action during Crystal Palace v Manchester City.
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Simon Rolfes describes Claudio Echeverri as the kind of player ‘fans come to games to watch’
The player in question is Claudio Echeverri, who has just completed a loan move from Man City to Bayer Leverkusen.
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Luckily for City fans, the deal is reported to be a simple loan without an option or obligation to buy.
Leverkusen have high hopes for Echeverri, giving him the No. 9 shirt and suggesting he can become a key player for them this term.
Leverkusen managing director of sport Simon Rolfes is delighted to welcome Echeverri to the fold.
“Claudio Echeverri is a technically gifted, energetic player who is very dynamic between the lines from where he poses a threat,” he told the Leverkusen media team.
“A classy footballer – very good at dribbling, direct going forwards and always able to bring his teammates into play positively.
“Football fans come to games to watch players like Claudio. His creativity will bring new and attractive elements to our game.”
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Why Manchester City fans should not be worried about Claudio Echeverri loan exit
Echeverri is a top talent who Pep Guardiola rates highly, having described him as an “incredible” player.
Guardiola said at the Club World Cup: “He is an incredible player from a small town [Resistencia], a big, big talent in small spaces and [I’m] happy for him. Great goal.”
However, with Omar Marmoush ahead of him in the pecking order and Erling Haaland all-but guaranteed a starting spot when fit, Echeverri would likely have struggled for game time this term.
With that in mind, City have decided 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.
However, the lack of option or obligation to buy suggests City aren’t looking to offload or cash in on him any time soon, so it will be interesting to see how he fares over the course of the season.
Should Echeverri go on to impress in the Bundesliga, there’s a good chance Guardiola will take a closer look at him next pre-season and potentially include him in his first-team plans.