Claudio Echeverri’s move to Europe was supposed to be the next big leap in his fast-growing career, but things have turned a bit complicated. After Manchester City signed him from River Plate, the club immediately sent him on loan to Bayer Leverkusen.
Softfootball understands that his arrival came with plenty of hype, especially after Leverkusen fought off competition from Dortmund and Roma to secure the loan deal. At the time it looked like the ideal next step for the young Argentine.
Now, the plan has taken a bit of a hit. Echeverri has managed under 200 Bundesliga minutes due to a hamstring injury picked up in August, and Leverkusen’s sporting director Simon Rolfes, as reported by Fabrizio Romano via his official X account, says conversations with Manchester City are ongoing.
He said:
Bayer Leverkusen director Rolfes: I’m in frequent contact with Man City, we all hoped Echeverri would play more and reach a higher fitness level more quickly after his injury.No question, we’ll discuss his situation. But it’s still open, and for now, Claudio is with us.
Manchester City included a January recall clause for a reason, and with the player barely featuring, the possibility of an early return is not far-fetched at all. The contrast between City’s form this season and Echeverri’s slowdown has made supporters pay even closer attention to his situation.
Some fans worry that losing rhythm at this stage in his development could slow down everything he showed with Argentina’s youth sides. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola recently stated that, whatever has happened, it is unclear from City’s side, adding that his agent knows more than everyone.
Rolfes still insists the player is committed to Leverkusen and that the club believes he can turn things around once he is properly fit. As the winter window gets closer.
Echeverri now faces the challenge of proving he belongs in the Bundesliga, with Manchester City closely watching and ready to redirect his path if his situation doesn’t improve soon.
