Just hours ago, Manchester City officially announced the signing of Argentinian prodigy Claudio Echeverri. After fierce competition between FC Barcelona and Chelsea, Pep Guardiola and Co. prevailed in obtaining the touted ‘next Messi.’ But behind the scenes, one individual played a pivotal role, orchestrating the deal single-handedly—Omar Berrada, the newly appointed CEO of Manchester United.

Of course, the efforts of the team’s coaches, players, and staff helped Manchester City endure a meteoric rise over the past few years. But Omar Berrada is someone we can consider the real mastermind behind City’s sporting prosperity. That’s because he is the Chief Football Officer for the City Group. However, news broke that the Red Devils had successfully managed to lure him to Old Trafford. Although his departure is a major loss, he managed to give a farewell gift to Manchester City before going. 

In his role as chief football operations officer, Berrada is the one who managed to defeat the other elite teams for the signature of Claudio Echeverri. As per The Athletic, throughout the process, he had been ‘working long, hard, and successfully on a challenging deal’ along with River Plate and the 18-year-old player. Berrada did all of this without even hinting that this would mark one of his last contributions in his capacity as a Man City figure. 

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Echeverri is one such example. Berrada also helped Pep Guardiola recruit Norwegian sensation Erling Haaland. Unfortunately, this is the luxury that the Sky Blues will miss from the beginning of the next season. Either way, the team and the fans must be thankful for his service. They must enjoy the last gift that Berrada gave them. 

A closer look into the ‘next Messi,’ Claudio Echeverri

With Manchester City paying $27 million to River Plate, Claudio Echeverri agreed to sign a 6-year deal. The talented forward has left an indelible mark by delivering an enthralling performance for the Argentina U17s. As a captain, he led his beloved nation to the U-17 South American Championship in 2023, scoring 5 goals in the tournament. 

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In over 22 appearances, he scored 13 goals for the U17. Echeverri also lifted the Argentinian League and the Campeon Trofeo de Campeones with River Plate. Perhaps, just like Julian Alvarez, he can also integrate within Manchester City’s system and become a formidable force. All in all, Pep Guardiola has hit the jackpot. 

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