Aguero recovering from knee surgery
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero is recovering from minor surgery on his knee, but the Argentine international said yesterday that he is “motivated” to get back on the pitch soon.
Aguero missed Saturday’s win at Tottenham Hotspur after suffering an injury setback but manager Pep Guardiola said last week he remained hopeful the 29-year-old forward would be available for the “last games” of the season.
“Recovering from an arthroscopy on my knee. Fully motivated to get back soon to the field,” Aguero said.
An arthroscopy is a type of keyhole surgery used to diagnose and treat problems with joints.
Aguero has not started a match since the 1-0 win against Chelsea on March 4 and has made just two substitute appearances since then – against Manchester United and Liverpool.
City have wrapped up the Premier League title with five games remaining but Aguero is targeting full fitness in time for the World Cup in Russia, which starts in June.
In other City-related news, the club have been cleared of wrongdoing over the controversial signing of teenager Benjamin Garre from Argentine club Velez Sarsfield, Press Association Sport understands.
City could have faced a transfer ban had a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport gone against them.
Velez claimed City broke world governing body Fifa’s regulations on international transfers when they signed Garre, then 16, in July 2016.
Velez argued Fifa rules only allow players under the age of 18 to move between clubs in European Union countries. City countered that Garre held an Italian passport and was therefore entitled to move after his 16th birthday.
Fifa ruled in City’s favour over the matter but Velez took their complaint to Lausanne-based CAS, where the case was heard last summer. Now, following a lengthy delay, a verdict could be imminent.
It is understood City have already been informed that the court has upheld Fifa’s original ruling.
City could have been banned from signing players for up to two transfer windows had the ruling not gone in their favour.
Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have been subjected to bans for breaching rules around the signing of international players under the age of 18 in recent years.