Aguero heads for the exit as City step up Haaland chase
Manchester City have commissioned a statue in honour of Sergio Aguero after it was announced last night that the Argentina striker – arguably the greatest player in their history – would leave at the end of the season.
Aguero cemented a place in City folklore when he secured the club’s first Premier League title with a stoppage-time winner on the final day of his first season in England to snatch the championship away from bitter rivals Manchester United on goal difference.
It would prove the most unforgettable moment of a decade-long love affair with City, during which he became the club’s all-time top scorer with an extraordinary 257 goals in just 384 appearances and one of the Premier League’s bestloved and most-revered imports.
Aguero’s future had become the subject of intense debate after an injury-plagued past year and it has now been confirmed the 32-yearold will depart when his contract expires this summer.
Pep Guardiola held a private meeting with Aguero after training late yesterday afternoon, when the manager delivered the news that the club would not be offering him a new contract.
Aguero then received an emotional phone call from Khaldoon Al Mubarak, the City chairman, who lauded his glittering contribution to the club following his £38 million move from Atletico Madrid in 2011 and revealed the news that they planned to erect a statue in his honour at the Etihad Stadium.
City are eager to sign Erling Haaland, the prolific Borussia Dortmund and Norway striker, as Aguero’s long-time successor, even if the club face competition from Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester United for the player’s signature and would
have to shatter their £65million transfer record to sign him.
Barcelona are one of the clubs eager to sign Aguero and a move to the Nou Camp would raise the prospect of the Argentine teaming up with his compatriot and close friend, Lionel Messi. Messi is also out of contract this summer and has been linked with a move to City, but new Barcelona president Joan Laporta has pledged to keep the player at the Catalan club.
Aguero – who has talked about finishing his career in Argentina – is likely to have a number of offers to weigh up. A winner of four Premier League titles, one FA Cup and five League Cups, Aguero hopes his final two months at City will be marked by more silverware as the club chase an unprecedented quadruple, including the only leading trophy still to elude the striker – the Champions League.
Having undergone a knee operation last June, Aguero has endured a troubled road back to fitness, with complications following surgery, other injury problems and coronavirus-related issues all combining to limit him to just four league starts this term.
“When a cycle comes to an end, many sensations arise,” Aguero said in a heartfelt post on his social media accounts last night. “A huge sense of satisfaction and pride remains in me for having played with Manchester City for a whole 10 seasons – unusual for a professional player in this day and age.
“Ten seasons with major achievements, throughout which I was able to become the top historic goalscorer and forging an indestructible bond with all those who love this club – people who will always be in my heart.
“I was to join the reconstruction era of 2011, and with the guidance of the owners and the contributions of many players, we earned a place among the greatest of the world.
“The task to maintain this welldeserved privileged position will remain on others. As for myself, I will continue to give it my utmost for the rest of the season to win more titles and bring more joy to the fans.
“Then, a new stage with new challenges will begin. I am fully ready to face them with the same passion and professionalism I have dedicated to continue competing at the highest level.”
As well as smashing Eric Brook’s 78-year record to become City’s alltime record scorer when he found the net in a 4-2 Champions League win over Napoli in 2017, Aguero is the highest scoring overseas player in Premier League history.
Yet he will always be best remembered for his last-gasp goal to clinch a dramatic 3-2 win over Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the 201112 season just when it looked like City had blown the title and handed it to rivals United, whose dominance Aguero played a huge part in ending.
City have already commissioned statues of Aguero’s former teammates David Silva and Vincent Kompany and intend to install a permanent mosaic in honour of the Argentine at the club’s training base.
They will begin work on plans to mark his departure in the final home league game of the season against Everton, when it is hoped some supporters will be permitted entry to the Etihad. “Sergio’s contribution to Manchester City over the last 10 years cannot be overstated,” Al-mubarak said. “There is still much to achieve in the remainder of the time we have with Sergio, and we look forward to his contributions to the challenges which lie ahead. “It gives me great pleasure to announce that we will be commissioning an artist to create a statue of Sergio to live at the Etihad Stadium alongside the ones under construction for Vincent and David. “We look forward to the opportunity to bid Sergio a fitting farewell at the end of the season.”