Manchester City are set to welcome a “secret weapon” in the January transfer window, a player hailed as “the next Lionel Messi.”

One of Argentina’s most promising young talents is set to begin training with Manchester City’s first team on January 1, as Pep Guardiola prepares to utilize the player dubbed “the next Lionel Messi.”

Earlier this year, City outpaced several top European clubs to secure Claudio Echeverri from River Plate. The 18-year-old attacking midfielder follows a similar path to Julian Alvarez, who joined City from River in 2022. Echeverri has remained at the Buenos Aires club throughout 2024.

Initially, City planned to loan Echeverri to sister club Girona to ease his transition to European football. However, according to The Mirror, those plans have changed due to fitness issues affecting Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, and Jack Grealish.

Echeverri, who has made 41 appearances and scored four goals for River Plate this year, has been in excellent form under Marcelo Gallardo. Although River requested to extend his loan until next summer, City declined the offer.

The teenager recently captained Argentina’s youth team at the Under-17 World Cup and has trained with the senior national team, earning praise from Angel Di María, who noted his passion and potential. “You can see he’s got fire in him. He has a lot to offer,” Di María said.

Former City defender Martin Demichelis, who coached Echeverri at River Plate, acknowledged his technical brilliance but highlighted physical challenges. “His technical ability and intelligence are unquestionable, but physically, the early stages were tough for him,” Demichelis explained.

Echeverri, who turns 19 on January 2, is now poised to make his mark in Manchester as one of City’s most exciting prospects.