Barcelona manager Xavi has acknowledged the talent of River Plate's rising star, Claudio Echeverri, amidst swirling transfer speculations linking him to the Spanish giants.

According to ESPN reports, Barcelona faces stiff competition from Chelsea, Manchester City, and Paris Saint-Germain for the young midfielder.

Despite this, Echeverri has openly expressed a desire to join Barcelona in the past. Xavi, addressing the player known as "El Diablito" (Little Devil), has now shared insights about the gifted prospect.

He said on Friday, "The boy [Echeverri] is a talent. Beyond the hat-trick he scored against Brazil [at the U17 World Cup], he's a difference-maker, but it's something for the scouting department [to deal with]."

Turning 18 in January, Echeverri has expressed his aspiration to join Barcelona at some point in the future.

"As well as River, I would like to play for Barca," he said before the under-17 World Cup in November. "I am a big [Lionel] Messi fan and I watched him play there, so they are a team I have followed since I was very young."

With the January transfer window set to open in a little over two weeks, there is speculation that Barcelona might consider making a move for Claudio Echeverri in the early months of 2024.