Midfielder impressed in the first half of City’s 6-0 win over Al Ain and both his teammates and Guardiola praised his skill and work ethic
Manchester City fans got their first proper look at Claudio Echeverri on Sunday and the teenager didn’t disappoint.
The 19-year-old midfielder was handed his full debut by Pep Guardiola in City’s emphatic 6-0 win over Al-Ain at the Club World Cup. While the result secured City’s place in the last 16 with a game to spare, it was Echeverri’s moment of brilliance that stole the show.
The young Argentine marked his first start for the club with a stunning free-kick, curling the ball past the goalkeeper from 25 yards out in the first half to double City’s lead. Though he was taken off at half-time due to a minor ankle issue, his performance left a strong impression on Guardiola and his teammates.
“Fantastic goal and incredible player,” Guardiola said after the game. “Since he arrived, he’s been staying after training to practise free-kicks with the goalkeeper, wall, and alone.
“When the other ones didn’t practise, he was always there and the work pays off.”
Echeverri agreed to join City from River Plate in January 2024 but stayed on loan at the Argentine club for another year. He arrived at the club in January of this year and was given his first appearance in May’s FA Cup final as a substitute in the defeat to Crystal Palace. But Sunday marked his first real chance to show what he could do from the start.
City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega said: “He reminds me a bit of Julian Alvarez. Same type of player. His finishing is incredible.
“He’s a really good guy, a bit shy in the beginning but I think he can help us a lot.”
City’s comfortable win over the Emirati side also saw goals from Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, and Mateo Kovacic as Guardiola’s side made it back-to-back clean sheets and took their goal tally to eight in two games at the Club World Cup.
