Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola gave a terse response regarding loanee Claudio Echeverri’s desire to return to the club earlier than his January 2026 agreement, simply stating, “Ask his agent.”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola delivered a blunt response when asked about loanee Claudio Echeverri’s desire to return to the club sooner than planned, according to a report from Goal.com.
The Argentine forward, currently still with River Plate, recently sparked speculation by indicating he wished to join City in June 2025, rather than adhering to the original timeline.
The Citizens signed the highly-rated Echeverri in January 2024 for a fee of £12.5 million ($15.8m), with an agreement that he would remain in Argentina until January 2026 to continue his development.
Guardiola was quizzed on the matter during his press conference on Tuesday, ahead of City’s crucial Champions League tie against Shakhtar Donetsk. His reply firmly pushed the responsibility back onto the player’s representation.
When asked about the youngster’s comments, Guardiola simply stated: “Ask his agent.”
This terse answer indicates that despite the player’s apparent eagerness to move to Manchester early, the club is adhering strictly to the structured development plan negotiated with his representatives.
While City remains keen on Echeverri’s future, the Spanish coach made it clear that any deviation from the loan agreement is a matter for the agent, not something the manager will address publicly or act upon prematurely.
The focus remains on Echeverri maximising his time at River Plate before he integrates into the Premier League champions’ squad.