One ill-advised move has created doubt about where a young talent fits at Manchester City | OneFootball

The 2025-26 season didn’t go to plan for Claudio Echeverri. Echeverri left Manchester City to go out on loan at Bayer Leverkusen. The hope was that playing in the Bundesliga and Champions League would aid Echeverri’s development. That didn’t occur. Echeverri struggled to make an impact at Leverkusen and was recalled by City in January before being loaned to Girona for the second half of the season. Echeverri showed glimpses at Girona; however, you do wonder what the cost will be for Echeverri in the long term due to his ill-advised move to Bayer Leverkusen.

Claudio Echeverri suffered this season after moving to Bayer Leverkusen.

Pep Guardiola couldn’t hide his frustration last November when speaking about Claudio Echeverri’s struggles at Bayer Leverkusen. Guardiola took a swipe at Echeverri’s agent when asked about the possibility of Manchester City recalling the talented playmaker from Bayer Leverkusen at the time. Claudio Echeverri’s agent pushed his client to join Bayer Leverkusen in a loan move that ultimately didn’t go to plan. That move has clearly set Echeverri back in terms of his career progress.

Claudio Echeverri showed signs of his talent at Girona during the second half of the 2025-26 season. Although they were fleeting glimpses rather than consistent performances, looking back now, you do wonder what the cost will be for Echeverri after making a poorly advised loan move to Bayer Leverkusen.

Manchester City does need a winger this summer, or another attacking player. If Echeverri had followed Vitor Reis to Girona, perhaps everything could have been different for the talented Argentinian playmaker. Reis played consistently at Girona and seems set for a role in the City first team next season. It is hard to see Echeverri having the same opportunity as Vitor Reis after his 2025-26 season did not go to plan.

It is hard to see Claudio Echeverri breaking through at Manchester City, so what happens this summer may be telling.

Despite Claudio Echeverri’s obvious talent and potential, it is hard to see him remaining at Manchester City for next season. Yes, City’s squad will be depleted at the beginning of next season after 19 players participate in the upcoming World Cup. Echeverri could participate in Manchester City’s preseason. Outside of that, another loan move likely beckons for him.

What Echeverri cannot afford is another ill-advised loan move. He is seemingly playing catch-up from his time at Bayer Leverkusen. That cannot be allowed to happen again for him. It remains to be seen which clubs will have an interest in taking Echeverri on for next season. However, there will be suitors for him that will emerge this summer. Whatever happens, Echeverri needs to find the right move that suits what he needs and avoid his agent making the same mistake as last summer.

Claudio Echeverri endured a frustrating 2025-26 season. Manchester City has high hopes for Echeverri, but for now he remains a young player with potential. Next season shapes as a pivotal one for Echeverri, as it may determine whether or not he can make it at Manchester City or become another young player whom City sells for a profit.