Manchester City have now been told they are signing a seriously special talent in Claudio Echeverri amid a comparison to both Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona.
It was Daniel Brizuela – the man who originally scouted the Argentina U17 international for River Plate – who made the comments when speaking to Pagina 12.
So, what was said about Claudio Echeverri after Manchester City sealed a deal with River Plate? Let’s take a look…
Manchester City told they have signed a mixture of Messi and Maradona
Well, this is quite the statement to make about an 18-year-old.
Nevertheless, it just goes to show how highly Echeverri is rated in Argentina.
Brizuela told Pagina 12: “He is a footballer who has a mix between Maradona and Messi. He has the personality that Diego had, the strong character to grab the ball and go forward. The other part is football, in that he is very similar to Lionel, with his dribbling that starts on the flank, moving towards the middle and finishing the play with a goal.”
If that is the case, then Manchester City’s total package of £26m spent on Echeverri could soon prove to be a bargain.
The teenager has been loaned back to River Plate for 12 months – however – so it will be a while until Manchester City fans get to see him in action at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City must shield Echeverri from such statements
While it must be nice for Echeverri to see himself compared to the likes of Messi and Maradona, Manchester City – and River Plate – must ensure praise like this does not end up piling too much pressure on the South American prospect.
The £26m price tag alone is surely weighing heavily on his shoulders, so both clubs have a duty of care to look after the Resistencia-born prodigy.
Hopefully, Echeverri can fulfil his immense potential without any hitches along the way, and become a significant player for Manchester City.
