Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has given supporters a rough timeline as to when they can expect to see their new signing, or at least their latest arrival, make his first appearance.
The Blues wrapped up the January transfer window with four major signings: their new attacking number seven, Omar Marmoush (who has already bagged a hattrick on his home debut) promising defensive duo, Abdukodir Khusanov and Brazilian Vitor Reis, as well as their ‘mini-Rodri’, Nico Gonzalez.
However, the club has had another late arrival who was technically signed back at the start of last year but who has spent for the last 12 months or so loaned back to his previous parent club, River Plate in Argentina, waiting to make the move over to the Etihad Stadium – and now he’s here in Manchester.
Speaking on his touchdown in 0161, Pep said Claudio Echeverri won’t be thrown into first-team action straight away but did give a rough estimate as to when City fans could expect him to get involved. You can see him discussing the integration plan in his post-match press conference following the Spurs win.
The mention was only brief but there’s still plenty of reason for Man City fans to be excited by the late January signing.
“Yeah, he [Claudio Echeverri] is going to start to train and mainly will be for the end of the season, maybe the [Club] World Cup and as soon as possible [that] he arrives he can adapt quick for the future.”
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As mentioned, the 19-year-old Argentinian attacking midfielder from Resistencia officially put pen to paper with CFG back in January 2024 and was quickly dubbed ‘the next Messi’.
Now, although the football world is often quick to jump the gun with these things and he isn’t the first and certainly won’t be last to be slapped with this premature title, he’s done more to back up these claims since then than he has rubbish them.
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Starring at the 2025 Under-20 South American Championships, netting six goals in nine games to finish the tournament as the second highest scorer thanks to notable braces against Brazil and Uruguay as the young Argentine’s finished as runners up.
He also notched 48 senior appearances for River Plate thus far, netting four goals and grabbing eight assists in that time, not to mention having already captained his national team at the 2023 Under 17s World Cup, where he scored another five.
Safe to say there’s plenty of talent to be tapped in this lad.
Once again, Echeverri won’t go straight into the senior set-up for a little while yet, barring a major injury crisis, but he’ll be a more than exciting addition to the City Football Academy and for future first-team lineups for years to come.
Who knows, maybe he’ll be included in an FA Cup matchday squad? Nevertheless, you can expect him to not just come of the bench but hopefully show what he can do at the Club World Cup this summer.
City‘s first fixture as reigning champions of the competition will be against Moroccan side Wydad AC on 18 June 2025.
You can watch Echeverri’s first full interview as a Man City player down below:
The new Man City signing is excited to be finally be part of the club 13 months on from agreeing his contract.
Radcliffe FC shake off interest in coaching duo as they reject official approach for their managers
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester team Radcliffe FC have shooed off suitors for their first team coaches after receiving and rejecting an offer for their pair of managers.
In a word, it was a big, fat, definitive NO.
Joint Radcliffe bosses, Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley, have lifted the National League North side into seventh after 19 games, currently outperforming virtually all of their nearby rivals and other regional sides in the division.
With the likes of fellow local outfit Curzon Ashton sat in ninth, their former employers Chester FC in 11th, not to mention Chorley, Buxton, Macclesfield FC and Southport sliding into the bottom half, it’s clear that other clubs are hoping they can have a similarly positive effect on their position in the table.
Nevertheless, it’s clear that Boro’s board have no intention of letting their gaffers go, and it looks as though the duo have no interest either.
Sharing a short but emphatic statement online, the club wrote: “We can confirm that an approach has been made regarding Managers Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley, and wish to make clear that this approach has been formally rejected.
“Both Managers remain fully committed to their current roles, and we hold Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley in the highest regard, valuing the incredible ongoing work they continue to deliver.
“As such, no discussions or negotiations will be entered into, and no further comment will be made at this time.”
To put it simply, they’ve told the as-yet-undisclosed would-be poachers to ‘do one’, and the fans certainly seemed to enjoy it.
Wasn’t too hard to resist if they rejected it so quickly 🤣
As you can see, besides some speculation that the call might have come from the aforementioned Chester in hopes of them returning home, even Shakers fans themselves are apparently insisting that the club in question is Bury FC, who are currently in the West Division of the Northern Premier League.
The fact that Johnson is said to be a Bury fan himself has certainly added some fuel to the fire, but it appears as though they’ll be staying put – at least for now.
Nevertheless, there’s clearly plenty of admiration for the work they’re doing at Stainton Park; one user commented: “Keep Johnno and Morley. They are top guys. We have [Bobby] Grant at Marine, who is doing fine. Shows what a good job these guys are doing.”
Speaking of ‘The Seals’ over in Cheshire, you can see the highlights from the away victory against Radcliffe FC down below.
Special mention for that goal by Michael Afuye at 3:14.
Featured Images — Ingy The Wingy (via Flickr/Wikimedia Commons)
Sport
The Rest Is Football to host new Netflix show during the 2026 World Cup
Danny Jones
If you’re wondering what the 2026 FIFA World Cup coverage is going to look like, one particular group of punditry regulars will be broadcasting remotely, as The Rest Is Football has signed a huge deal with Netflix.
Led by Gary Lineker and co-hosted by Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, the smash-hit sports podcast is taking its already visualised format into a new corner of streaming, signing on as Netflix’s official programming partner throughout the tournament.
Co-founded by Lineker himself, the show is owned and produced by Goalhanger Podcasts (who also oversee the equally popular The Rest Is History and Rest Is Politics series), and will be the brand’s first foray into TV.
Announcing the seasonal Rest Is Football spin-off this week, the trio of former footballers turned presenters shared a short trailer on social media, giving an overview of what fans can expect come World Cup 2026.
Obviously, as seasoned pros both on the pitch and on the box through their work on Match of the Day (MotD), BT/TNT Sports, CBS Sports and more, this will be familiar ground for all three of them.
Lineker was expected to anchor the BBC’s World Cup coverage as usual, but after leaving the company earlier this year, he has decided to go it alone – or rather with his close friends and long-time collaborators, with The Rest Is Football starting back in 2023.
As explained in the clip, this format will also mirror their coverage of the Euros last year, only this time, the former MotD poster boy will be doing his hosting duties over in the States, where the bulk of the now 48-team competition tournament is taking place.
Circling back, the 65-year-old has confirmed that he’ll be working from a studio in New York and will be accompanied not only by his co-hosts virtually but with several special guests scheduled to join in, too.
Multiple reporters are expected to remote in from the England camp and various fan zones, with the fixtures set to take place across North America and Mexico.
Will you be tuning into The Rest Is Football on Netflix next summer?
Danny Jones -
27th February 2025 
