Manchester City’s newest 19-year-old star leapfrogs Erling Haaland and Rodri in club shop shirt sales | OneFootball

It may only be a matter of days since his arrival at the club, but early indications are already pointing towards Claudio Echeverri holding potential superstar status.

The teenage Argentine sensation is widely believed to be the next potential big name to emerge from the South American nation, with comparisons already being made to some of their all-time greats.

Many of those within the game will be hoping that Echeverri can follow in the footsteps of Lionel Messi, albeit it an ambitious target, with the player himself opting to select the number 30 shirt at Manchester City – taking inspiration from the Barcelona legend.

The former River Plate starlet has been a long-awaited arrival at the Etihad Stadium and finalised his various media duties before getting involved in his first training session alongside Pep Guardiola’s star last week.

While not being involved in the subsequent FA Cup fifth round win over Plymouth Argyle, excitement around Claudio Echeverri’s arrival in Sky Blue has extended far into the club’s global fanbase, seemingly translating into shirt sales.

That is according to the information of Spanish newspaper AS, who report that Manchester City are hoping that the sale of Claudio Echeverri shirts will continue to ‘skyrocket’ in the club shop, just days after his official arrival following an extended stay with River Plate.

It is claimed that the Argentina Under-20 captain’s shirts featuring his name and selected number 30 have been leading sales at Manchester City in recent days, ahead of both other January arrivals and the likes of superstar first-team names in Erling Haaland and Rodri.

For now, it remains to be seen when Echeverri could make his debut for Manchester City, if at all this season given the importance of all of the club’s remaining matches across the Premier League and the FA Cup.

That was the feeling brought across by Pep Guardiola when the subject of how long City fans may have to wait for an Echeverri debut was put to him in a recent press conference, as the Catalan coach gave a word of warning instead stressing the importance of matches.

“I don’t know. He’s arrived and we’re in the decisive part of the season, where every game is a final,” said Guardiola. “Now after winning at Spurs we’re fourth [in the Premier League] but if we didn’t get a result we’ll be sixth, seventh, and if we lose one or two we’ll finish eighth!”

He continued, “Everything is so tight, every game is a final, two games in the Premier League before the international break, massively important; Nottingham [Forest] is third and Brighton is there, making an incredible run.

“Focus on that, and at the end we’ll have long weeks, train and prepare well, everyone makes focus, because no one – me first and players second, after the season we’ve done in the Premier League and Champions League – can say much.

“You have to be focussed on what the team, the club needs, and this is most important right now.”