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What next for Sergio Aguero?

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4 weeks ago

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What next for Sergio Aguero

 

Well it’s official. Sergio Aguero will leave Manchester City at the end of this season. As he waves goodbye to Manchester and likely the Premier League as a whole, it is now finally time to assess just what his impact has been. How he will be remembered at Manchester City. How he will be remembered in the Premier League. Then of course, what’s next for Sergio Aguero? Where will his next destination be? Strap yourselves in for plenty of speculation in the coming months.

The decision to allow Aguero to leave Manchester City on a free at the end of the season has surprised many. Whether it’s allowing the player to go without any financial gain or letting the player move away in general, opinion is somewhat split. In reality though, it’s not too difficult to figure out why the decision makes sense.

Injuries and illness have played a large part over his small part in City’s season. Having made just 14 appearances in total, including just 8 in the Premier League and adding a single goal in the process. Despite the absence of their all-time record goalscorer, City have flourished this season. Fighting on all four fronts with eyes on a historic quadruple. So perhaps with things looking so promising without him, it’s a good a time as any to bring his decade long service to an end.

 

The Records

Alongside the news that City would not be extending the Argentines stay, Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak also announced that the club had commissioned a statue to be built outside the Etihad:

“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 [Kompany] and David [Silva] . We look forward to the opportunity to bid Sergio a fitting farewell at the end of the season.”

On paper, the statistics speak for themselves. He became their all time leader goalscorer in 2017, surpassing Eric Brooks previous record that had stood for 78 years. Since joining Manchester City from Athletico Madrid in 2011, for a then club record fee of £38 million, the striker has become a symbol of City’s rise and dominance in this Premier League era. Until this season, he averaged 2o league goals per season, a goal every 103.8 minutes and is placed fourth in the all time Premier League goal scoring charts. Behind only Andy Cole, Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer.

The goals tell just one part of the story however. Aguero has also been part of arguably City’s greatest period in terms of trophies. With the prospect of many more trophies on the way before the end of the season, his trophy haul is mighty. Four league titles, five League Cups and an FA Cup underline the impact his goals on the team. Whether it’s been Roberto Mancini, Manuel Pellegrini or Pep Guardiola, the former Atletico Madrid man has been a constant to City’s success.

 

That Moment

In truth, many of these stats don’t matter. They may as well not exist. That is because there will be one moment that outlives even the greatest goal ratios and trophy hauls. Look away United fans, you know what’s coming next.

Sergio Aguero’s 23rd goal for Manchester City is arguably the most important in their entire history. The title winning, last minute winner against QPR was as important as it was iconic. Everything from the commentary of Martin Tyler, to the celebrations on the pitch and in the stadium are iconic. The moment itself was iconic. But the reality was so much more important than anyone realised at the time. The “most dramatic conclusion to a season in Premier League history” was also the beginning of a new era. It gave Manchester City, who had already spent big under their new owners, their first league title in 44 years.

A year later it would be the red half of Manchester who would be lifting the Premier League title for the last time under Sir Alex Ferguson. A post-Ferguson era was beginning and City, after winning a title just a year previously, were in pole position. Since then, 3 title winning seasons have followed (soon to be 4), including the 100 point season and the Domestic treble in 2019. Arguably, that injury time winner started it all.

 

What’s next for Sergio Aguero?

So it’s settled. Aguero is a Manchester City legend and one of the top Premier League strikers of all time. But what’s next for Sergio Aguero? Where will he go now? It seems pretty clear that he will have more than a few options.

 

A Premier League stay?

In his official statement given after news of his departure broke, Aguero commented on his new challenge that he is “ready to face them with the same passion and professionalism that I have always dedicated to continue competing at the highest level”. News of his availability on a free had no doubt already caught the interest of few Premier League clubs but his statement may have helped interest them further.

Recently, Arsenal’s Manager Mikel Arteta ruled out a move for the City striker, but the likes of Chelsea and even Manchester United have been touted as potential destinations for Aguero next season. The striker has previously described Chelsea as a “great club”, although in fairness that was over a decade ago. The move would not be as shocking as moving the move across the city. Chelsea legend, Frank Lampard’s stint at Manchester City shows a lack of animosity between the two teams. Meanwhile, a move to Manchester United would of course be a much more surprising move. It may evoke memories of Dennis Law, the rivalry is incomparable to that of today.

 

A move abroad?

Outside the Premier League looks much more likely. His previous experience with Atletico Madrid could put him off a move to Real Madrid but Barcelona are rumored to be interested in the striker. A move back to Spain and even Atletico Madrid would not be out of the question. Other top clubs around Europe, such as Juventus and PSG would represent a new challenge for Aguero who may be looking to go to a different league.

A different league also includes outside of Europe, he will no doubt have offers from the United States, including David Beckham’s Inter Miami. Following the likes of Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimović, to name a few who have moved from the Premier League to the United States in recent times. South of the border, a return home to Argentina is also a possibility.

 

The variables

Aguero’s eventual destination, unless he chooses to move back to Argentina or to the United states, could be a smaller part of a larger transfer story. With Tottenham striker Harry Kane and Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland both rumored to be on the move this summer; heavily linked as replacements for Aguero at Manchester City. However, with Barcelona and Real Madrid beginning talks with Haaland this week and multiple clubs showing interest, it may be whoever misses out on the Norwegian starlet who turn their attention to Aguero.

Whatever is next for Sergio Aguero, he leaves the Etihad as a club legend. He will go down as one of the greatest Premier league strikers and there’s no doubt that there will be plenty of speculation, twists and turns before he makes his next career move.

 

We hope you enjoyed the article ‘What next for Sergio Aguero?’ What is your favourite Sergio Aguero goal? Where does he rank in the Premier League’s all time greatest goalscorers list? Let us know!

 

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