Explained: Why Man City must make new transfer plan for Claudio Echeverri as River Plate star will not be allowed to join Girona on loan

Posted Sunday, May 12, 2024 by Goal.com

Manchester City will have to make new plans for the future of teenage sensation Claudio Echeverri due to a UEFA ruling.

Echeverri signed for City in January
Sent back to River Plate on loan
UEFA rule could prevent Girona switch

WHAT HAPPENED?

City signed the 18-year-old playmaker from River Plate in January and allowed the Buenos Aires-based outfit to keep him on loan until January 2025. They had planned to ship him to sister club Girona, also owned by the City Football Group, on a temporary basis afterwards but, according to The Mirror, the Catalan club's qualification for the Champions League has put a spanner in the works. UEFA rules prevent clubs in the competition with the same owner from completing loan deals.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Girona guaranteed a top-four finish in La Liga this season with last weekend's 4-2 win over Barcelona, Michel's side recording 23 victories from 35 matches. They will play in their first Champions League campaign as a result, although if they were to be eliminated at the group stage and unable to play City in the knockouts, Echeverri's loan move would be back on. However, City are reportedly eyeing Real Sociedad, Real Betis and Las Palmas as alternative destinations for the Argentine.

DID YOU KNOW?

Echeverri really caught the eye of Europe's elite at last year's U-17 World Cup, a tournament in which he scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Brazil. He scored five goals in total as Argentina were eliminated by Germany in the semi-finals.

WHAT NEXT FOR ECHEVERRI AND RIVER PLATE?

Echeverri will be eager to impress Pep Guardiola in the second phase of the Argentine season. River Plate get their campaign started against Central Cordoba and they will also be eyeing success in the Copa Libertadores having not won the competition since 2018. The Argentine side are top of their group with three wins from four matches and resume continental action next week.