Why are Man City letting the King drift out the door?
AFEW days ago, I took my phone out to remind myself of The Moment. Sunday, May 13, 2012; the 93rd minute of Manchester City’s game against QPR.
There was Sergio Aguero, drifting in from the left to get a pass from Nigel de Jong. On he goes, playing a one-two with Mario Balotelli, before he darts into the penalty area. He shapes to shoot but, crucially, he feints to get a little bit more space. Then… bang. Off we go into paradise.
I’ve seen the goal that changed the course of City’s modern history a million times. It never fails to give me goosebumps but this time I felt sad. Sergio is the last man standing of the 2012 title winners and the fact he is leaving means a chapter is finally closing on that golden era.
Nobody can stay at a club for ever, no matter what they have achieved. But something inside is gnawing away at me. Why are they letting the King drift out the door now? Why has an announcement been made with a possible 16 games to go and the chance of him making more history?
I would understand the decision not to renew Sergio’s contract if he had played 30 Premier League games this season and looked a shadow of his former self but, since November 23, he’s played 276 minutes in all competitions. It’s hardly any time at all and there have been many games where he’s been fit and he’s not been given an opportunity.
Since it was announced that he was leaving, I’ve seen comments about how it is right for him to move on and the team are ready to go in a different direction. Some supporters are impatient to see investment in someone new.
My initial reaction to it all was, ‘Hold on a minute!’ — I absolutely do not agree that this is the right time. I love Sergio, so it goes without saying that I can’t be totally objective, but I’m putting my personal feelings aside here for what I am about to talk about. This argument is based on football, ability and understanding what he still offers.
To make this point, I’m going to use Edinson Cavani. I’ve spoken to Ian Wright, Alan Shearer and Roy Keane recently. They are all top pundits whose opinion I respect greatly and, in the case of Wright and Shearer, they have forgotten more about forward play than I will ever know.
All three of them have raved about Cavani, talking about the difference he has made to Manchester United. They would love to see him stay at Old Trafford for another 12 months, given the impact he has made on the squad. Cavani, for the record, was 34 in February. Clearly, he is not too old.
Sergio, on the other hand, is 32. I wouldn’t try to say he is the same player who arrived from Atletico Madrid a decade ago but for it to be claimed he has fallen over the edge this season physically is just nonsense. He has always been someone who needed games to get into a rhythm.
Sergio will carry on playing at the highest level for some time yet because of that glorious natural ability.
The QPR goal is the best evidence. Very few forwards in the world would have had the confidence, the intelligence and the daring to take a split-second when the pressure was at its most intense but that’s why Sergio is different.
Just consider the clubs who want to sign him in June: Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Inter Milan will all be involved. In other words, the elite. Chelsea have wanted to sign him for years. Why wouldn’t they? Aguero for nothing more than his wages? It’s an unbelievable deal! I’m surprised that City haven’t attempted to keep him for another 12 months. I’m not advocating them giving him a three-year contract or anything like that but, if anyone had earned the right to leave on their own terms, it was Sergio. It’s why I don’t understand the timing of this announcement.
During the course of the next two months, there is the potential for some more moments on a par with what he did against QPR nine years ago, particularly in the Champions League. If I had to pick one player to score a goal to save my life, it would be him all day long.
While saying he is leaving now has the potential to upset his state of mind, I am backing him to finish his City career on a high as the club chases something unprecedented. I suppose on one hand it represents the development of the club that they feel they can progress without a talent of that kind.
Who would I sign to take over? Kylian Mbappe. I have to stress, though, that whoever comes in will be ‘ taking over’ and not ‘replacing’. Sergio is irreplaceable, as was Vincent Kompany and David Silva. When the last of the gang walks out the door, it won’t be the same again.