Manchester City is a club that is always in the news when it comes to football transfers, and once again the Etihad has been thrown into a storm of debate, arguments and emotions after another decision from Pep Guardiola that many fans believe should never have happened. With the transfer window reaching its final days and every team in Europe scrambling to finalise deals that could shape their season, Manchester City’s focus has been not only on who they can bring in but also on who they should allow to leave. For weeks now there have been whispers of exits, rumours of interest from big clubs in some of City’s top stars, and constant speculation around names like Savinho and Ederson. But while those two sagas remain ongoing, another decision has been confirmed, and it has set the fanbase on fire. The name at the centre of this drama is Claudio Echeverri, the young Argentine midfielder once described by many scouts as “incredible” and one of the brightest prospects of his generation.
Echeverri’s future had been surrounded by rumours for months, with Borussia Dortmund seen as the frontrunners to take him on loan, but in a shocking twist, it was Bayer Leverkusen who moved quickly and hijacked the deal. Now, with the official confirmation that Echeverri will be spending the 2025/26 season in Germany, fans of Manchester City have started to question Pep Guardiola himself, asking why the manager would allow such a talented player to leave at such an important moment in the club’s future. For a fanbase that has seen big names leave in recent years and is still trying to understand the manager’s long-term vision, this news has landed like a punch in the stomach.
The reaction has been fierce. Social media exploded within minutes of the announcement. “So he is gone as well! I don’t get the mentality of letting go of young players,” one fan wrote on X, echoing the frustrations of thousands more. Others were even more direct, accusing Guardiola of failing to learn from the mistakes of the past. They reminded him of Cole Palmer, another academy product who was allowed to leave only for him to shine elsewhere. They pointed at Jadon Sancho, another name who slipped through City’s fingers years ago and went on to build his reputation in Germany. Now, with Claudio Echeverri, it feels to them like history is repeating itself, and it is Pep himself who is being held responsible.
The timing of the move makes it even more dramatic. With Jack Grealish already departing for Everton, and James McAtee also gone, the squad feels lighter in attacking midfield options than ever before. Fans are asking why, in this moment, would Guardiola decide to loan out a young player who could provide depth, energy, and unpredictability in the midfield. It is true that City’s squad is filled with world-class talent, from Kevin De Bruyne to Phil Foden, from Bernardo Silva to Mateo Kovacic, but everyone knows the season is long and injuries are inevitable. To many fans, letting Echeverri go feels like willingly removing a weapon from the arsenal just before a battle.
Echeverri is not just any player. Born in Resistencia, Argentina, the midfielder grew up with football at his feet, earning the nickname “El Diablito” – the Little Devil – for his ability to torment defenders with his skill, pace, and vision. At River Plate, he was seen as the next big Argentine export, the kind of player who could carry a team on his shoulders. When City secured his signature, the excitement was huge. Many supporters believed he could be the heir to players like David Silva or even a future replacement for Kevin De Bruyne, someone who could continue the creative legacy of the club.
But now, instead of watching him develop in sky blue, City fans will have to follow him in the Bundesliga, where Bayer Leverkusen have promised to give him the playing time and responsibility that he might not have received at the Etihad this season. For Leverkusen, it is a dream signing, a chance to add one of South America’s brightest young stars to their already exciting project. For City, it is a temporary loan, a chance to let him gain experience, mature, and return stronger. But for the fans, it feels like a betrayal of their hopes. They don’t want to wait. They wanted to see him now, at the Etihad, in front of their eyes, proving why he was called “incredible.”
The wider context makes this even more painful. Manchester City are not just any team. They are the Premier League champions, the club that every other side is trying to chase down. They have one of the most powerful squads in football history, but success also brings challenges. With too many players fighting for the same spots, it becomes impossible to keep everyone happy. Guardiola’s philosophy has always been clear – he prefers a smaller squad, filled with players he fully trusts, rather than a bloated roster of talents sitting on the bench. That is why this summer has seen City focusing on trimming down the numbers, sending players on loan or selling those who don’t fit perfectly.
Yet the problem with this approach is that fans see young players as more than just numbers. To them, talents like Echeverri represent the future, the hope that when today’s stars fade away, someone will be ready to step in. And so when those players are loaned out or sold, it feels like the future is being thrown away. Supporters remember how Cole Palmer left and immediately became a key figure at Chelsea. They look at players like Brahim Diaz, Sancho, and others who left too soon. Now they fear Echeverri might follow the same path, becoming a star elsewhere while City regret letting him slip away.
The frustration is amplified by the uncertainty around other players. Ederson has been linked with a move away, with rumours of Saudi Arabian clubs preparing big-money offers. Savinho has attracted attention from Tottenham, who are desperate to make a deal happen before the window shuts. If both of those players leave, City will already have gaps to fill. Add Echeverri’s loan to that list, and it begins to feel like the squad is losing depth faster than it is being strengthened. Guardiola has always insisted that his focus is on quality over quantity, but the fans are left asking: at what cost?
Some supporters have tried to defend Guardiola, arguing that a loan to Bayer Leverkusen might be the best thing for Echeverri’s development. They point out that Pep has a history of carefully managing young talents, giving them time to grow outside the pressure cooker of Manchester before bringing them back ready to shine. They highlight the fact that this is only a one-year loan, not a permanent sale. To them, the outrage is premature, and patience is required. But patience is a difficult thing for football fans. In a world where results are demanded every week, where rivals are strengthening their squads with huge signings, patience feels like a luxury.
There is also the emotional element. Echeverri had already captured the imagination of the fans. His highlight clips, his performances for River Plate, his reputation as the next big Argentine star – all of this made supporters dream of what he could do in a City shirt. Now those dreams are on hold, and instead of excitement, there is bitterness. The decision to send him out on loan might make sense in Guardiola’s eyes, but to the fans, it feels like a moment of loss.
As the days of the transfer window tick away, the pressure on Guardiola continues to grow. His legacy at Manchester City is untouchable – he has delivered trophies, dominance, and football that has changed the Premier League forever. But even the greatest managers face criticism, and even legends can be questioned. This latest decision has reminded everyone that no matter how successful you are, the relationship between a manager and his supporters is built on trust. And right now, that trust is being tested.
What will happen next remains uncertain. Echeverri will head to Germany, where he will wear the red and black of Bayer Leverkusen. City will continue to chase glory in the Premier League, Champions League, and beyond. Guardiola will keep making decisions he believes are best for the team. But the fans will not forget this moment. They will watch closely. They will hope that when the Argentine returns, he comes back stronger, ready to justify the faith of those who still believe in him. And if he does not, if he goes on to become a star elsewhere, then this summer will forever be remembered as the time when Manchester City let another “incredible” talent slip away.
For now, the questions hang in the air. Why did Pep let him go? Was it really necessary? Will City regret this? Nobody knows the answers yet. But one thing is certain: Claudio Echeverri’s story at Manchester City is only just beginning, and the next chapter will be watched with more attention, more passion, and more emotion than ever before.
