Claudio Echeverri wanted La Liga move claims sporting director – Agent of Manchester City star blocked move | OneFootball

The agent of Manchester City rising star Claudio Echeverri blocked the talent’s intended move to Girona during the summer, the club’s sporting director has claimed.

City’s teenage sensation has attracted headlines across Europe following his high-profile arrival from River Plate earlier in the year, with the 19-year-old attacking midfielder emerging as one of several youngsters tipped to spend the 2025/26 campaign on loan.

With Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad stacked with senior options in his position, the City Football Group were expected to keep his development in-house despite widespread interest from across the continent.

Reports indicated City had fielded multiple loan destinations for Echeverri, including sides in Portugal, Spain, and Germany. Girona – one of City’s sister clubs – were widely believed to be frontrunners, with some suggesting that a move to Catalonia would allow the young Argentine to adapt to European football and under the same philosophy as Manchester City.

However, Echeverri’s eventual decision to join Erik ten Hag’s Bayer Leverkusen raised eyebrows, given Manchester City’s strong internal pathways and the competitive squad at the German club, and that move hinted at a more player-driven process rather than an organisational placement.

Now, in comments relayed by Spanish newspaper Sport, Girona sporting director Quique Cárcel claims that City’s Claudio Echeverri was in favour of a move to his club in Spain before ultimately opting for Bayer Leverkusen.

“We wanted Echeverri because he’s a beast of a player, who scored in the Club World Cup,” Cárcel explained.

“He wanted to play, get playing time, and compete in European competitions, but I think he wanted to come here, and it was his agent who looked for a different project profile, and we have to respect that.”

While City ultimately sanctioned Claudio Echeverri’s move to Germany, they have included specific loan protections into the deal, ensuring the player’s long-term future remains tied to the Etihad Stadium.

The club remains adamant that his development is being carefully managed, similar to the structured paths followed by fellow South American arrivals such as Julián Álvarez, and those at the German club believe opportunities will soon come Echeverri’s way after a difficult start to life at the club.

In the opening weeks and months of the campaign, Echeverri has been handed just five outings in a Bayer Leverkusen shirt, registering a singular assist in just 82 minutes of on-field action, now under the coaching of Kasper Hjulmand after Erik ten Hag’s dismissal.

Speculation now surrounds whether Manchester City could revisit a Girona switch in the future, particularly if Claudio Echeverri struggles for consistent minutes in the Bundesliga. Girona, who have already benefitted from CFG-linked players such as Savinho and Yan Couto, remain open to future collaborations and continue to monitor his progress closely.

For City, the episode highlights the delicate balance between club strategy and individual player management – especially when agents, ambitious young talents, and multiple CFG clubs are involved. Should Echeverri eventually excel in Germany, City’s long-term plan may yet prove justified, but for now, Girona’s frustration underlines how in-demand the Argentine playmaker has become.