Claudio Echeverri: Argentina's 'next Lionel Messi' destined for superstardom at Man City

soar_manager

Jan 5, 2024 - 10:53

Claudio Echeverri: Argentina's 'next Lionel Messi' destined for superstardom at Man City

The 18-year-old attacking midfielder is bound for the Etihad Stadium after a breakthrough year for club and country.

In the modern age of social media, budding young footballers have the opportunity to make a name for themselves well before breaking into the professional game, with spectacular goals or moments of individual brilliance often caught on camera. Claudio Echeverri, for example, became a viral sensation at just 11 years of age while competing for a River Plate youth team in the 2017 Venice Champions Trophy - a seven-a-side tournament that also included Atletico Madrid, Ajax, Juventus and Chelsea.

Echeverri scored nine goals in six appearances as the Millonarios finished third, with four of those coming in a superb display against Juve, but he was far from satisfied. “The truth is that we aren’t happy because we wanted to win the tournament,” the youngster told reporters after his team's exit.

That will to win has since helped set Echeverri apart from other promising players in his orbit, and he is now set to complete a dream move to the Premier League, despite only turning 18 on January 2. According to Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City have reached an agreement to sign the River and Argentina starlet for £20 million ($25m) including performance related add-ons, after fighting off competition from Barcelona.

City have a strong record when it comes to bringing the best out of Argentina's best exports, with the likes of Pablo Zabaleta, Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero helping them to emerge as the dominant force in the Premier League. Julian Alvarez is now flying the Argentine flag for the English champions, having also been snapped up from River, and there is no reason why Echeverri can't follow in his footsteps after a stunning start to his fledgling career.

Where it all began

Echeverri was born in Resistencia, the capital of the Chaco province located in north-east Argentina, and learned the basics of football from his father at an early age. He was also supported by his mother and two brothers, all of whom encouraged him to pursue his dreams after it became apparent that he had a natural aptitude for the beautiful game.

Local club Deportivo Lujan gave him the opportunity to hone his skills, and he did enough to catch the attention of River scouts, who offered him a trial at the age of 10. It didn't take long for Echeverri to make his mark, as former River recruitment director Daniel Brizuela recently told TyC Sports: "Beyond skill and technique, we look at decision-making, intelligence and character. Claudio was like a 10-year-old man."

River declared their intention to sign Echeverri, but family ties almost prevented their union. Brizuela added: “We were standing in front of the Monumental, and Echeverri said to me: ‘I am a River fan, and I love it here, but if my mother isn’t joining me, then I will head back to Chaco.’”

Former River manager Marcelo Gallardo and president Rodolfo D’Onofrio, however, were adamant that Echeverri couldn't slip through the net, and helped arrange accommodation for his mother at an apartment in Buenos Aires - which was an unprecedented move given his age.

Two months later, River handed the teenage sensation his first professional contract. The nickname El Diablito was also bestowed on Echeverri ('Little Devil' in English), which tells you everything you need to know about his unique talent given it was also a moniker for Marco Etcheverry - the flamboyant former MLS and Bolivia star widely considered to be one of the greatest players in South American history.

Biggest strengths

So many players have been dubbed 'the next Messi' down the years, from his former Barcelona team-mate Bojan Krikic to Martin Odegaard in his early days at Real Madrid. No one has come close to living up to that billing, and the comparisons don't do Echeverri any favours, but he certainly does possess some of the attributes that set Argentina's talismanic captain apart from his peers.
Echeverri dribbles with a low centre of gravity and boasts excellent close control, along with an assured first touch and varied passing range. He's a tenacious, hard-working player with a keen eye for goal, and is versatile enough to operate as a traditional No.10, a winger or even as an out-and-out striker.
Messi and the very best players in the world have unerring confidence in their own abilities, and Echeverri is no different. He is just as humble as the Inter Miami superstar off the pitch, too, recognising that he is still only at the start of his journey with much work still to be done. “I always said that my idol was Messi, but I’m nowhere near Messi!" Echeverri said to FIFA's official website in November.
He added on what he sees as his biggest strength: "I think it could be my speed, because I'm very fast; I try to get on the ball quickly and I immediately get forward."

What comes next?

Man City fans will already be salivating over the prospect of seeing Echeverri in action, but, he is set to remain at River on loan for the duration of their 2024 campaign. Echeverri is expected to sign a long-term contract at the Etihad Stadium, with City in no rush to push him into the spotlight like they did Alvarez, who was four years older when he joined the club.
But the teenage ace has already started to set himself ambitious new goals. "I always said that my dream was to make my debut for River’s first team, and I’ve done that now," he said to FIFA. "Now, it’s probably playing for the senior national team. That’s my dream."
If Echeverri can now establish himself as a fixture in Demichelis' starting XI at Estadio Mas Monumental, a first senior call-up to the Argentina squad cannot be ruled out. After all, Messi made his debut for the Albiceleste as an 18-year-old back in 2005, and last summer, Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho emulated the Barcelona legend when featuring in a friendly clash with Australia.
Lionel Scaloni won't be afraid to give Echeverri a run out, and he might even secretly be aiming for a surprise spot in the Argentina manager's 2024 Copa America squad. Whatever happens, the next 12 months will be vital for Echeverri as he gears up for a new challenge in the Premier League.
River youth scout Luis Pereira insisted that “El Diablito has no roof" in a recent interview with Radio la Red, and it will be fascinating to see just how far he can go under the stewardship of Pep Guardiola when he eventually does join up with his new team-mates at City.
Echeverri may not be Messi, but he could be the leading light of the new generation, and play a role in making sure that 2022 World Cup winners Argentina remain the team to beat for years to come.