Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero states his preference to return to Argentina when his contract ends. What does this mean going forward?
Around Manchester City these days, contract lengths are sort of akin to deaths of comic book heroes. Neither set in stone nor a guarantee we won’t see them in the future, despite what we may have expected. Just look at boss Manuel Pellegrini, he signed an extension with the City brass back in April of last year which would take him to the end of the 2017 season. He leaves this summer. Contracts are fickle things when you have more money than sense. Don’t like the guy anymore? One massive golden handshake later and it’s problems solved.
So it is that, you’ve likely heard by now, that it seems Manchester City’s attempts to get Sergio Aguero locked in for the rest of his professional career have had cold water poured on them. Well, more like a tidal wave, really. Speaking on Argentinian radio, Kun said the following (as reported by Sky Sports)
"“Here [at Manchester City], they know what I want to do, they know I want to return to Argentina. I’m giving you my word that I want to return to Avellaneda when I leave England. I dream of playing alongside my brothers.“In the last few months, lots was said about my renewal but I didn’t pay it any attention. I know the contract ends after the World Cup [in Russia in 2018] and I’m going back to Independiente.“Here at City, the vibes have always been the best, they’ve always told me they were open [to a move] if the chance of a transfer came up. When I leave, when my contract ends, I’m off to Argentina to play for the Reds [Independiente], from Manchester straight to Avellaneda.”"
Well that’s fairly straight forward. Ignoring for a second that, as he was speaking on Argentinian radio, it’s not that surprising he would say something to shore up his cult status back home. I mean, it’s obvious that they probably weren’t all that happy by reports not that long ago that Aguero intended to spend the rest of his professional career at Manchester City, so throw your boyhood team and it’s supporters a bone by making a sweeping promise (that likely saw him on the receiving end of a tongue lashing from his agent).
Even so, it’s difficult for Citizens to hear it come from the horse’s mouth. After all, Aguero is a legend, a City hero, an irreplaceable part of the club’s history, present and future. Obviously his time to “retire” to Independiente and middle-to-bottom of the Argentinian Premier League football will come some time. They’ll have their Aguero, but they will never have an Aguerooooo. The status he maintains and the place he holds in the hearts and minds of all connected with City is surely unrivalled.
Worse still, at this point it all seems so early, Kun is still red hot and debatably the best striker in the league. He’s netted 21 goals for City this year in all competitions, despite struggling with injuries and even moreso with questionable service. So if he leaves when his contract expires, he will either be 30 (according to Aguero) or 31 (according to Manchester City) and likely still looking and playing as good at either. That Kun isn’t fully aware that his contract extends already until the end of 2019 seems to be somewhat moot, afterall, we assumed it was to be much longer.
What could be the reason? Well, it seems Aguero is already a little put off by incoming Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola having talked to his old pal and fellow Argentinian Lionel Messi (perhaps you’ve heard of him?) about what Pep was like when he had the reins at Barcelona.
"“Leo told me Pep is very demanding.It’s kind of crazy with four months to go, to know your coach is leaving and also to know who is his successor, but that’s how it is.”"
Aguero isn’t alone in thinking it’s nuts that, with so much for City to play for, they already know Pellegrini is getting the heave-ho in favour of Guardiola at the end of the year. He could literally win the league and the Champions League, to go along with the Capital One Cup he’s already bagged, and he’d still be managing a different club next year. So much for extensions, indeed.
Regardless of the reason, Kun’s comments are fairly black and white. Where does that leave City going forward? Well, they still get three (?) more full seasons of one of the best strikers in the game. He wants to go back to Independiente which is basically the same thing as saying he’ll never have the opportunity to play against Manchester City, aside from the possibility that Sheikh Mansour buys Independiente for fun. So that’s good news, at least.
Look, it’s black and white from Kun but that’s not the end of the story by any means. There’s still three more seasons and a lot can change between now and then. His mind, for example. Or perhaps the money City are willing to pony up to keep him in a sky blue shirt. Money talks. Or maybe by then we’ll have moved on a bit, and only a bit, with the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho coming up through the ranks.
Next: Gundogan and Sane heading to Manchester City?
Either which way, it’s no time to panic. And regardless, there’s still only one Agueroooo, that much will never change. He made his legend here and it’ll live on long after he’s moved back home. Until then, let’s just enjoy having Kun and the goals that follow him around. Who knows? If Pellegrini’s anything to go by, it could be better his contract doesn’t get extended after all.