Manchester City reject €33 million offer for Claudio Echeverri | OneFootball

Officials at Manchester City have rejected a detailed proposal from Italian giants AS Roma this summer for highly-rated attacking midfielder Claudio Echeverri.

As speculation continues around the next step in Echeverri’s development, the latest attempt to secure his services has left Manchester City rejecting the chance to part ways with the teenager under current terms.

The club’s vision for the Argentina youth international star remains long-term, despite widespread acknowledgement that he is unlikely to feature regularly under Pep Guardiola in the immediate future.

City welcomed Echeverri from River Plate in January 2025 and integrated him into the first-team group upon arrival, with the midfielder going on to score his first goal during the FIFA Club World Cup.

However, there is an acceptance that consistent opportunities may be difficult to come by given Pep Guardiola’s existing options in the middle of the park, and City are exploring ways to accelerate his progress through a loan.

Previous reports highlighted that Girona were expected to push for a season-long deal for the 19-year-old, despite Echeverri’s personal preference for Roma. That came as City also prepared a loan for Brazilian defender Vitor Reis to the La Liga club, with the Girona link now emerging as a key channel for talent development from within the Etihad Stadium setup.

Now, according to exclusive information from journalist César Luis Merlo, Manchester City have rejected a one-year loan offer from Serie A giants AS Roma for Claudio Echeverri, which featured purchase and buy-back clauses.

It is revealed that a 12-month proposal for the Argentine playmaker also contained a ‘mandatory purchase clause’ of €33 million, which included a buy-back clause for Manchester City.

However, despite the rejection of the proposal, the report indicates that Echeverri’s future at the Etihad Stadium beyond the ongoing summer transfer window remains unclear.

While Manchester City have turned down Roma’s formal bid, the club still appears open to sending Echeverri out on loan, just not in a structure that sees them immediately lose control over his long-term future.

Girona are expected to remain in the frame as a most likely destination, particularly given their rising profile within La Liga and strong integration within the City Football Group system.

Should no loan materialise, Echeverri will remain in Manchester and continue to train under Pep Guardiola for the first half of the season, potentially featuring in domestic cup competitions or off the bench in Premier League matches.

Manchester City’s rejection of AS Roma’s offer may also be interpreted as a strong signal to other clubs that while Claudio Echeverri is available for development opportunities, he is not for sale – at least not under conditions City deem unfavourable.