According to a report from Calciomercato, Manchester City have turned down a formal approach from Roma for highly-rated Argentine prospect Echeverri. The Giallorossi have been monitoring the 19-year-old attacking midfielder for weeks, hopeful of securing a deal that would see him join on a one-year loan with an obligation to buy for €33 million (£29m/$38m).
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However, City rejected the proposal outright, unwilling to relinquish long-term control over the player. Instead, the Premier League champions remain committed to their internal development plan, which involves loaning Echeverri to fellow City Football Group club Girona to gain top-flight experience in La Liga.
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Despite Echeverri’s personal interest in joining Roma and playing immediately at a high level, City’s hierarchy is intent on overseeing his progression more closely. The club recently presented a clear path to the player and his representatives: a season with Girona, followed by integration into City’s senior setup with added relevance and competitive minutes under his belt.