Football: no Roma for Echeverri, who flies to Leverkusen

Turin, Aug 21 (LaPresse) – Claudio Echeverri, the young offensive midfielder from Manchester City, will be loaned to Bayer Leverkusen. Considered one of South America's brightest footballing talents and recently courted by Roma, the 19-year-old Argentine has instead chosen to move to Germany. Echeverri joins Leverkusen on loan for one season to "gain further first-team experience," according to City. He is expected to take on a creative playmaker role after Florian Wirtz's departure to Liverpool for around $156 million in June, amid a broader exodus of players following the exit of Xabi Alonso as coach. "Fans come to the stadium to see players like Claudio," said sporting director Simon Rolfes. "His creativity will add new and exciting facets to our game." Echeverri signed with City in January 2024 but was loaned back to his former club, River Plate, for a year. He has since played three times for City, including a debut in the FA Cup final, and scored his first goal as a starter in the Club World Cup against Al-Ain. Leverkusen will face Hoffenheim in their Bundesliga opener on Saturday, after winning their first-round match in the German Cup last week under new coach Erik ten Hag.