Man City transfer news: Claudio Echeverri exit decision made as Enzo Maresca takes 'firm' stance

Manchester City caput manager Enzo Maresca intends to support Claudio Echeverri astatine the nine for the archetypal fractional of the 2026-27 astatine least, according to a report.

The 20-year-old returned to the Etihad Stadium implicit the summertime aft spending the 2025-26 play connected indebtedness astatine Bayer Leverkusen and Girona, though some spells were underwhelming.

Echeverri played conscionable 270 minutes for Leverkusen crossed each competitions, earlier managing a measly 1 extremity and 1 assistance successful 17 appearances for Girona en way to relegation from La Liga.

The Argentine was besides not included successful the matchday squad for Man City's 3-0 nonaccomplishment to Arsenal in the Community Shield, and it would beryllium a daze to spot him progressive successful Sunday's Premier League opener against Bournemouth too.

With Phil Foden signing a caller declaration and Rayan Cherki impressing past term, Echeverri is arguably Maresca's third-choice fig 10, and the anticipation was that helium would depart again - either connected indebtedness oregon permanently - successful 2026.

Enzo Maresca takes 'firm' Claudio Echeverri transportation stance

A instrumentality to boyhood nine River Plate has been mooted for Echeverri, but according to Soy del Millo, Maresca has present taken a 'firm' stance connected the 2006-born playmaker's future.

The study claims that the Citizens brag wants to springiness Echeverri minutes successful the coming months and has closed the doorway connected his exit, though the concern could alteration arsenic the wintertime approaches.

If Echeverri fails to ignite his Man City vocation successful the archetypal fractional of the season, River Plate - who volition proceed to show the concern intimately - could widen an olive subdivision to the playmaker successful the January transportation window.

Man City paid £18.5m to bring Echeverri to the nine from River Plate successful aboriginal 2024, but the South American has made conscionable 3 elder appearances for the Sky Blues to date, 2 of which came arsenic a substitute.

Echeverri's 1 and lone Premier League outing for Man City truthful acold came successful a 2-0 triumph implicit Fulham connected the last time of the 2024-25 Premier League season, soon aft his competitory debut successful the FA Cup last decision to Crystal Palace.

Echeverri past started and scored successful a 6-0 Club World Cup triumph implicit Al-Ain, but helium was taken disconnected astatine fractional clip by Pep Guardiola and has not made different authoritative quality for the Sky Blues since.

However, the 20-year-old did instrumentality portion successful pre-season friendlies against Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid, albeit portion playing a specified 30 minutes crossed some contests, and his declaration runs until 2028.

Claudio Echeverri stays, but who could permission Man City?

Echeverri sticking astir astatine the Etihad volition astatine slightest assistance lessen the interaction of expected exits for Savinho - whose £85m determination to Tottenham Hotspur has been agreed - and Omar Marmoush, whom Spurs are besides assured of capturing.

Jack Grealish's aboriginal remains a taxable of large uncertainty too, portion fringe defenders Issa Kabore, Juma Bah and Josh Wilson-Esbrand could besides beryllium allowed to depart earlier the September 1 deadline.

City person already mislaid 11 players this summer, arsenic James Trafford, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Tijjani Reijnders, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake and John Stones person near permanently, portion Sverre Nypan, Max Alleyne, Pierce Charles and Mathys Detourbet person departed connected loan.