Man City’s record scorer Agüero extends contract

Man City’s record scorer Agüero extends contract

Sergio Agüero will now remain at Manchester City until 2021.

Sergio Agüero has scored 204 goals for Manchester City. (AFP pic)
MANCHESTER:
Manchester City’s record goalscorer Sergio Agüero extended his stay with the Premier League champions on Friday, signing a one-year contract extension.

The 30-year-old Argentina international, who broke the record last season and whose tally stands at 204, put pen to paper on a deal that will see him through to the end of the 2021 season and postpones his stated desire to finish his career with Independiente back in his homeland.

“I am happy for this additional year,” said Agüero in a club statement.

“My idea was being here for 10 years. I’ve been here for seven years, it’s going to be 10 when the contract expires.”

“This was the main reason I signed. I’m very happy because they have treated me very well since the first day I got here.”

City coach Pep Guardiola, who has left Agüero out at times in the past two years with young Brazilian Gabriel Jesus getting the nod, said he had not needed to change the striker’s mind about delaying his return to Argentina.

“I didn’t convince him, he decided himself,” said Guardiola at his Friday press conference.

“So I say thanks for the trust he has shown in us, like Vincent Kompany and David Silva.”

Guardiola, though, believes that Agüero – who earns a reported £220,000 (RM1.19 million) a week – staying 10 years at the same club will be a thing of the past.

“Before, it was easier to find players to stay their whole career in the same club,” said Guardiola.

“They want to live new experiences, and it’s not bad if they want to discover new languages and learn other cultures.

“It happened with Sergio: Argentina, then Madrid and then here. He’s an important player for the club, not just for the team.”

Txiki Begiristain, Manchester City’s director of football, said Agüero retained his status as one of the club’s most pivotal players.

“He has been so important to this club since his arrival in 2011 and he remains at the forefront of what we are want to achieve in the coming years,” said Begiristain.

“We are fortunate to have had one of the best strikers in the world at our club for so many years.”

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