Claudio Echeverri is officially a new signing for Benfica The 20-year-old Argentine forward signed his loan contract with the Portuguese club after leaving Manchester City, where he had not managed to establish himself in the first team.
The Diablito, who arrived in England from River at the beginning of 2025, will wear the number 30 jersey. That number became available after Nicolás Otamendi's departure, who was the captain and face of the team last season and now defends River's colors.
In his first statement as an Eagles player, Echeverri thanked the reception and committed to the club's objectives. “I wanted to send a big greeting. Thank you very much for the support you have given me since it was announced that I was coming. We will achieve all the objectives we have this year, you deserve it. Keep supporting as you always do,” he stated in a message shared on Benfica's social media.
The attacker will share the locker room with two other compatriots: Enzo Barrenechea and Gianluca Prestianni. The arrival was finalized after several days of negotiations and in a context where coach Enzo Maresca did not have him among his priorities at City.
The recent journey of Diablito
Since his arrival in Manchester, Echeverri has only played three matches and scored one goal, which was against Al Ain in the Club World Cup. That limited participation led to a loan to Bayer Leverkusen, where he played eleven matches and provided one assist before ending the contract.
