Manchester City’s veteran forward Sergio Aguero will leave the Premier League leaders this summer, with his current deal due to expire in June. The Argentinian forward turns 33 in June and he has barely featured this season. The decision will not be a major surprise to most. Aguero has featured just five times in the Premier League due to injuries and also a short spell on the sidelines due to COVID-19.
Sergio Aguero is a City legend
The word legend is bandied about too much in the modern era of football. However, it is hard to argue with Aguero’s legendary status at City. He has played a part in the most successful era in Manchester City’s history. The part he played in lifting the Citizens to where they are now cannot be underestimated. Aguero is the club’s top goalscorer, finding the net 257 times in just 384 appearances. He was the man that scored the goal that helped City to their first-ever Premier League title in 2012.
Aguero was one of the best strikers in the world game when he was in his prime. He reportedly snubbed offers from others club and stayed loyal to the Citizens.
Time catches up with the striker
In recent seasons, as with most football’s time is starting to show on Aguero’s physical state. He has picked up more and more injuries, which has led to more time on the sidelines. Manchester City have learned to play without the forward, with head coach Pep Guardiola often preferring to use a false number nine system this season.
The fact that City have been in such fine form, show that there is life after Aguero. Keeping the forward at the club beyond the summer would have been made out of sentimental reasons rather than sporting ones.
The decision is a practical one, in a business sense and in a playing sense. Will Aguero ever get back to his best? No, because unfortunately, injuries have taken their toll. It would be unfair to expect a 33-year-old Aguero to perform the same as a 27-year-old Aguero.
It may well prove to be the right decision for the player too. It’s doubtful that he would have been happy just playing a bit-part role for the team as a substitute. It is best that he moves on and maybe can enjoy a less injury-hit spell elsewhere.
Could Haaland fill Aguero’s boots?
No doubt City have coped in the temporary absence of Aguero for much of the season. However, it would be highly surprising if City did not make a move for a forward this summer. City have been linked with Dortmund’s in-demand starlet Erling Haaland.
The 20-year-old will be the most in-demand player in the transfer market this summer, with most of Europe’s top teams showing an interest in the Norwegian. No doubt Haaland would be a good signing for any team, but he is a completely different style of striker to Aguero or City’s other striker Gabriel Jesus. He seems an intelligent young footballer, though, so he could well adapt to Guardiola’s style of play.
Whether it be Haaland or another forward that fills the gap left by Aguero, it will be hard for them to come anywhere near to achieving what Aguero has in his Citizens career.
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Have Manchester City made the right decision by allowing Sergio Aguero to leave this summer
