Barcelona eyeing River Plate teenager Echeverri – sources،
Barcelona are interested in River Plate midfielder Claudio Echeverri but face competition from some of Europe's biggest clubs to secure the teenager's signature, sources have told ESPN.
Sources added that Echeverri, 17, is also a target for Chelsea, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, although he has previously expressed a desire to join Barca.
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“Besides River, I would like to play for Barça,” he said before the Under-17 World Cup in November. “I'm a big boy [Lionel] I'm a fan of Messi and I've seen him play there, so it's a team I've followed since I was very young.”
For his part, Barça coach Xavi Hernández said on Friday that the attacking midfielder was on his radar.
“This boy is a talent,” Xavi told a press conference. “Beyond the hat-trick he scored against Brazil [at the U17 World Cup]he makes the difference, but that's something for the scouting department [to deal with]”.
Echeverri's release clause at River is worth around 25 million euros ($27.3 million), although Barca's intention is to negotiate payment of the fee in installments due to his financial situation delicate.
He was one of the stars of the U17 World Cup played in Indonesia last month, although Barça, despite following him for a while, did not have scouts on site at the tournament for financial reasons, sources told ESPN.
River handed Echeverri his first-team debut in June and he made an immediate impact, providing an assist in a 3-1 win over Instituto. He made four appearances in total in the Argentine Primera División.
“He's really good,” a Barca source told ESPN. “He’s a sensational dribbler and has some wonderful skills.”
Echeverri is part of Barca's plans to sign some of the world's best talents, with Athlético Panaraense striker Vitor Roque set to join the club in January in a deal worth an initial €30 million. euros, to which will be added a potential additional 31 million euros.
Sources also confirmed to ESPN that the Catalan club are tracking young midfielder Lucas Bergvall, who plays for Djurgarden in his native Sweden.
Bergvall, 17, is seen within the club as one of several developing midfielders who could improve the team in the long term.
