Who is Claudio Echeverri? Man City's new U17 Argentina star nicknamed “El Diablito”

In what has been a relatively quiet January transfer window, Manchester City caused quite a stir when they announced the signing of Claudio Echeverri. In a statement on the club website on Thursday afternoon, the Premier League giants confirmed the signing of the 18-year-old attacking midfielder from River Plate. The deal will reportedly cost the English and European giants an initial fee of €14.5 million, but could rise to around €24m if future clauses are met. Having signed a contract with Man City until the summer of 2028, Echeverri will complete the current campaign with River Plate and join his new club at the end of this season. 

How good is Claudio Echeverri?

Man City fans would be forgiven for knowing very little about Echeverri, due in part to his young age and the fact that prior to completing his move to Man City the midfielder had made just six senior appearances for River Plate. So where did the English giants find this young talent? Despite his lack of game time for his club, Echeverri has made a name for himself after impressing for his national team’s youth sides over the past few years. And when we look at his record in international competitions we can see why Man City have paid a sizable sum for a player with so little senior experience. 

The attacking midfielder burst on to the youth scene in early 2023, when he starred and captained for Argentina at the U17 South American Championships, bagging no less than five goals and three assists in just eight appearances at the competition. Echeverri then did even better at the U17 World Cup later that year, helping Argentina reach the semi-finals of the competition with five goals and one assist in seven games. To date, Echeverri has bagged no less than 13 goals and five assists in 22 appearances for his country’s U17 team, averaging 0.98 goals or assists per 90 minutes. 

“He is without a doubt the biggest talent in Argentina,” Area Manager for Argentina and South America Scott Christensen said about the new Man City signing. “We have been hearing about him for four or five years. He is a small player who plays as an attacking midfielder. He is skillful, a good dribbler, creative, difficult to anticipate, and has a very strong finish. He is a player who always wants the ball and the initiative.” Such has been Echeverri’s tenacity on and off the ball that the young player has already earned the nickname “El Diablito” (the little devil), due to his style of play and after the former Bolivian national team player with a similar name, Marco Etcheverry. Like the Bolivian attacking midfielder before him, Echeverri is now known for his devilish dribbles, his speed in one-on-one situations, and his strong finishing.

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