Very few teams possess the allure and charm of a European juggernaut like FC Barcelona. The Catalan giants have been home to many of the game’s greats as well as many of the sport’s biggest titles. Given their rich history and pedigree, it comes as no surprise that FC Barcelona is as big as it is.
La Blaugrana continue to be one of the sport’s most attractive clubs for upcoming youngsters, and a new rising star seems to agree. Claudio Echeverri, aged 17, is seen as one of football’s brightest upcoming prospects.
The Argentinean footballer was a revelation in the Under-17 World Cup, and that quality has gained him a lot of attention. Clubs like Manchester City and Real Madrid continue to loom large, but it seems that the player’s heart is set elsewhere.
According to SPORT, in an interview prior to the junior edition of the World Cup, Echeverri stated his admiration and wish to join FC Barcelona:
“Apart from River, I would like to play for Barça. I’m a big fan of Messi and I watched him play at Barcelona, so I’ve carried this team within me since I was very young.”
This priority from the player’s perspective can be a great advantage for Barcelona. Unable to compete at a financial level against rival clubs, Barça have to take whatever they can get to improve their chances. Alas, the player’s desire to become a Blaugrana plays in favor of Barcelona.
The latest reports have confirmed that the Catalan giants indeed wish to pursue Echeverri. Moreover, they suggest that Barcelona even has a financial plan to execute a transfer operation for his acquisition.
The player currently has an active release clause of €25 million, reportedly. Barcelona hope to offer a transfer fee above this specific value, around €30 million, but have a condition that they be allowed to pay it across multiple installments. This would allow Barcelona to stay in regulation with their financial restrictions.
Moreover, even the player’s representatives are reportedly open to such an operation. With his contract ending in December of 2024 with River Plate, Barcelona, and his agents would ideally want him signed as a player of the club by the summer of next year.
Ultimately, time will tell where the prodigious ‘New Messi’ will end up, but signs definitely point to Catalonia.
