The step a Manchester City youngster should have taken may occur in January | OneFootball

It seems certain that Claudio Echeverri will return to Manchester City in January. His loan move to Bayer Leverkusen hasn’t panned out as Echeverri has only made eleven appearances for Leverkusen this season. The majority of those appearances have been as a late substitute. Such appearances have done nothing to aid the development of the young attacking midfielder. It has now been reported that Echeverri is open to terminating his loan with Bayer Leverkusen with the hope of joining Vitor Reis at Girona for the second half of this season. That was the move Echeverri should have made at the beginning of this season to aid his development.

Manchester City seems certain to cancel Claudio Echeverri’s loan spell at Bayer Leverkusen with Girona eager to take Echeverri on loan.

Journalist Nil Sola has reported via X that Claudio Echeverri has already said yes to having his loan spell at Bayer Leverkusen terminated in January. Furthermore, Solar reports that Girona are eager to sign Echeverri on loan for the second half of this season. It is also reported by Sola that Claudio Echeverri’s agent pushed for the young attacking midfielder to join Bayer Leverkusen over Girona last summer. Clearly, that move hasn’t panned out for Echeverri based on his lack of minutes and first-team opportunities at the Bundesliga club.

Claudio Echeverri should have joined Girona instead of Bayer Leverkusen and the hope is that Echeverri can salvage something from this season.

Looking back, Claudio Echeverri should have joined Girona for the 25/26 season. He would have had opportunities to play in La Liga at Girona. Vitor Reis has come on in leaps and bounds this season playing regularly in La Liga. Yes, Girona has struggled this season. But Vitor Reis has risen to become one of the best young centre-backs in La Liga. If Echeverri followed a similar path to Reis, he could’ve played a prominent role for Girona. Instead, Echeverri’s agent pushed him to join Bayer Leverkusen. The idea was sound. Playing regularly in the Bundesliga and the Champions League would have benefited Echeverri. But that hasn’t occurred. Echeverri has spent the majority of his time on the bench at Leverkusen. That hasn’t aided his development at all. The first half of the 25/26 season seems to have been a waste for Echeverri.

If Echeverri does join Girona for the second half of the season the hope is that he can turn his season around. He should get first-team opportunities at Girona. It will be up to Echeverri to take them. Girona is a club that will play him and if all goes well, Echeverri could help them in their battle to avoid relegation this season. That would benefit Echeverri’s development greatly and that is exactly what Manchester City will be hoping for.

Unfortunately, the first half of this season has been a harsh lesson for Claudio Echeverri. He hasn’t played for Bayer Leverkusen and his loan move to the Bundesliga side has cost him in terms of playing regularly to aid his development. A loan move to Girona could beckon and that is the move Echeverri should have made at the beginning of this season.