Maresca set to keep Echeverri at Manchester City despite underwhelming loans, reports say
Manchester City head coach Enzo Maresca intends to keep Claudio Echeverri at the club for the first half of the 2026-27 season at least, according to a report from Soy del Millo, as relayed by Sports Mole and Yardbarker. The 20-year-old Argentine returned to City over the summer after a season that included loan spells at Bayer Leverkusen and Girona, though neither stint produced the desired impact.
Echeverri managed just 270 minutes for Leverkusen across all competitions before moving to Girona in January, where he recorded one goal and one assist in 17 appearances as the club were relegated from La Liga. His limited game time came after he had gone against City's advice to join Leverkusen on loan for the first half of the season, according to Yardbarker.
At club level, Echeverri has made only three senior appearances for Manchester City, two of them as a substitute. His sole Premier League outing came in a 2-0 win over Fulham on the final day of the 2024-25 season, and he started and scored in a 6-0 Club World Cup victory over Al-Ain, though he was withdrawn at half-time in that match. He was not included in the matchday squad for City's 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield.
The report from Soy del Millo indicates that Maresca has taken a 'firm' stance on Echeverri's immediate future, preferring to give him minutes in the coming months rather than loaning him out again. However, the report also notes that the situation could change as the January transfer window approaches, with River Plate – a club Echeverri represented before his move to England – reportedly monitoring his progress closely.
Echeverri's preseason with City included limited game time – a combined 30 minutes in friendlies against Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid – but he showed glimpses of his talent during the club's tour of Asia. Yardbarker noted that his strengths lie in his pace, dribbling, and ability to create chances, attributes that could make him a useful squad option.
Competition for places in City's attacking midfield remains intense. Phil Foden recently signed a new contract, and Rayan Cherki impressed last season, leaving Echeverri arguably third in the pecking order for the number 10 role, as noted by Sports Mole. The same report highlighted that City have already seen significant squad turnover this summer, with the departures of players such as Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, and John Stones on permanent deals, alongside loan exits for several younger players.
Echeverri joined Manchester City from River Plate in early 2024 for a fee of £18.5 million, though he remained on loan at River for a period before linking up with the Premier League side. His contract runs until 2028.