In the ever-evolving world of soccer, a new name has emerged that has grabbed everyone’s attention. Claudio Echeverri, River Plate’s prodigious talent, is on the verge of a move to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, initiating a significant chapter in his meteoric rise. However, the story behind this 17-year-old sensation goes beyond the usual transfer buzz. In a recent conversation, Echeverri’s scout drew an unprecedented parallel between Echeverri and Argentina’s soccer legends – Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi. He described the youngster as having the ability to ‘play without any pressure‘!

Although the comparisons with the likes of Messi and Maradona might sound hefty, his performance for the Argentina U-17 team in the World Cup resonated with the icons. Let’s delve deeper and unravel the story behind Echeverri’s pursuit.

Former scout calls Claudio Echeverri a mix between Messi and Maradona

In an exclusive interview with Radio La Red, Echeverri’s scout, Daniel Brizuela, shed light on the exceptional qualities that set Claudio Echeverri apart. In a candid conversation, Brizuela lauded the characteristics and unique qualities that the 17-year-old possesses, alongside the staggering comparison. Though he claimed it would raise eyebrows, Brizuela continued without hesitation. “I threw a definition once about Echeverri, which I always knew that in Argentina, people will criticize us, but in reality, the characteristics I said are a mix between Maradona and Messi,” Brizuela stated. Further, he labeled Echeverri as a big-game player, as he emphasized his commendable ability to thrive in high-pressure situations.

“Claudio likes the finals the most, that is to say, ahead of the difficult matches, he gets motivated. He likes those challenges and he plays without any pressure, just like it happened with Diego & Messi,” Brizuela added. The seasoned scout unearthed the talent of Claudio Echeverri when he was just nine years old. Brizuela claimed that after Claudio caught their attention, they were already planning his future at River. “Echeverri was already like that at 9 years old when we saw him; Being there at the right time and time was perfect,” Brizuela remarked.

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Brizuela lauds Manchester City for swift action on Echeverri

As the news of Manchester City’s pursuit of Claudio Echeverri broke, Brizuela expressed no surprise. Instead, he attributed it to the meticulous nature of modern scouting. He lauded City’s scouting power, who grabbed the talent at a very young age. Brizuela asserted, “I’m not surprised that Manchester City is coming. Today’s scouting is different from before, today it’s much younger. It is very well-dated and they have followed him.”

Claudio Echeverri’s journey from a nine-year-old talent scouted by River Plate to the brink of a move to Manchester City is nothing short of exemplary. With echoes of Maradona and Messi already surrounding him, it’ll be interesting to see the growth of Echeverri with Pep Guardiola’s City. Fans will be waiting to see Claudio Echeverri tearing up the defenses in the Premier League.

Will Claudio Echeverri’s move to the UK materialize? Or what do you think his next soccer club will be?

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