“See you soon” – Incoming Manchester City starlet issues first words on departure from boyhood club | OneFootball

Manchester City’s incoming attacking midfield talent Claudio Echeverri has issued his first words ahead of the switch to the Premier League champions.

The Argentina youth international is expected to make the switch to the Etihad Stadium in the coming weeks, after his extended stay with River Plate concluded at the end of December following a completed agreement with City last winter.

The reigning Premier League champions reached an agreement worth £12.5 million plus add-ons during the last January transfer market, with Manchester City opting to leave the player at his then-current club until the following January.

And with Manchester City finding difficulties across competitions over the last 14 games in particular, the arrival of Echeverri has been long-awaited with some excitement amongst the club’s fanbase.

Writing a heartfelt message to River Plate supporters and those at the club on his personal social media page, Claudio Echeverri bid farewell ahead of his switch to Manchester City in the coming days and weeks.

“Today I have to say goodbye to the club of my life, the one I joined at a very young age with a lot of dreams to fulfil,” he said, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness.

“River became my second home, the club that formed me not only as a professional but also as a person. I want to thank the fans, teammates, coaching staff, leaders and people who work at the club for all these years.

“Also, to my family and friends, none of this would have been the same without them. I’m going to miss them and I’m going to continue being another fan wherever I have to be. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and see you soon.”

Manchester City fans may have to wait a little longer before seeing Claudio Echeverri embed himself into the club’s first-team set-up, after the Etihad side gave the player permission to represent Argentina at the South American U20 Championship.

The highly-rated tournament, which often shifts talents to the very forefront of South American football, is due to run from late January until mid-February, and as such Claudio Echeverri is expected to link up with City once he is finished with international duties.

Upon arriving at the City Football Academy, the common belief in various quarters is that the 18-year-old expected to be on the fringes of Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad and could yet be loaned out in the summer market for the 2025/26 campaign.