City Reject Roma's Echeverri Approach

The 19-year-old Argentine remains firmly in Pep Guardiola's plans despite limited first-team opportunities.

Roma tabled what appeared a sensible proposal for the teenager who featured as a substitute in City's FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace back in May. The package included an initial loan with a purchase option valued at €33million, plus a €40million buy-back clause favouring the Etihad club.

The Italian outfit had previously seen a €25million straight offer rebuffed earlier in the transfer window. Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini has been pushing hard to bring the young forward to Serie A, viewing him as an ideal addition to his attacking setup.

City's reluctance centres on maintaining full control over Echeverri's development pathway. Sources close to the Etihad Stadium suggest the club hierarchy sees the teenager as a genuine long-term prospect rather than a sellable asset.

Instead, City are exploring the possibility of shipping Echeverri to Girona for the season. The Spanish side operates under the same City Football Group umbrella, offering a more controlled environment for the youngster's progression.

This arrangement would guarantee regular minutes in La Liga while keeping Echeverri within the wider City system. The plan involves integrating him into Guardiola's first-team squad for the 2025-26 campaign following his Spanish experience.

Calciomercato suggests Echeverri himself favoured the Roma switch, attracted by the prospect of Serie A football and working under Gasperini's guidance. However, City's vision for his career path takes precedence over the player's immediate preferences.