Aguero: There’s been a before and an after since you were here.. you’ve made us bigger

more fitting having started that renaissance if he could cap it with the biggest club trophy of the lot this August as City continue to close on a first Champions League title.

Silva’s relationship with Aguero will be key if they are to triumph and it would be suitably fitting if the former could provide for the striker four more times in the league given only Frank Lampard and striker Didier Drogba, with 24 goals, have a more prolific assist-goalscorer relationship than the City pair on 21. “He is one of the team-mates I see eyeto-eye with the most to this day,” said the Argentina striker.

“I’d always prefer to play with David on my team but all things come to an end, don’t they?

“We’ll enjoy every last minute he’s able to play on our side and then we’ll miss him dearly when he’s gone.” Aguero signed for City in July 2011, a year after Silva and has gone on to score 254 goals in nine seasons.

The desire to cap both their careers with a Champions League trophy is burning bright at the Etihad.

But Aguero insisted that if Silva’s example shows anything it is that the team is bigger than any individual.

“When anyone wants to learn what it really means to put the team over the self, that’s where David will be too.

“That’s your true magic. You’ve empowered the team with it.

“To assist means to give, to deliver. When you factor in the competitiveness of the modern football scene, a whole new dimension is added.

“It illustrates the generosity of those who assist. That’s who you are.”

‘I always prefer to play with David on my team...we will miss him dearly here’