Argentinian attacking midfielder Claudio Echeverri has officially joined his dream club, Manchester City. The 19-year-old, often referred to as Argentina’s ‘Future Messi,’ signed for the English champions on Thursday and is eager to don their jersey.

Manchester City had secured Echeverri’s signature in January 2024 from River Plate for a transfer fee of £12.5 million, with a four-year contract in place. However, he remained on loan at the Argentinian club until last month. During his time at River Plate, he made 48 appearances and scored four goals. Additionally, he recently impressed at the U-20 South American Championship, netting six goals in nine matches, though his team finished as runners-up.

Upon his arrival at Manchester City, Echeverri expressed his excitement, stating, "I can’t put into words how thrilled I am to be in Manchester and finally call myself a Manchester City player. Football is my life, and playing for one of the top teams in Europe has always been my dream. Now, I am one step closer to making that dream a reality. This club is among the best in the world, not only because they win trophies but also because of the beautiful way they play football."

Echeverri’s arrival comes at a challenging time for Pep Guardiola’s side. Despite winning the Premier League four times in a row, City currently sit fourth in the standings, trailing league leaders Liverpool by 20 points. Furthermore, they have already been eliminated from both the Champions League and the League Cup. It remains to be seen whether Echeverri can play a role in turning around their fortunes and bringing City back to their winning ways.