After ten years with Manchester City, club legend Sergio Aguero has agreed to join FC Barcelona and join forces with international teammate Lionel Messi on a two-year deal after his contract expires this season.
Sergio Kun Aguero joined Manchester City from Atletico Madrid as a 22-year-old kid with enormous talent. The Argentine has been with Manchester City ever since and exceeded everyone’s expectations, scoring 261 goals in his 396 appearances with the Manchester Club, and will forever be remembered for his heroics in the 11-12 campaign against QPR when City clinched their first-ever Premier League trophy since 1968. Playing in the Premier League, Aguero became the highest overseas goal-scorer with a total of 182 goals in the League. It is hard to think of Aguero without Manchester City and City without Aguero, but all good things must come to an end and during the January transfer window earlier this year, the striker announced that he’ll be leaving the club after his contract expires at the end of the 20/21 season. Since his announcement, Barcelona who are desperately looking to bring in a striker, started making contact with the player to crack a deal.
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Last night, Aguero and Barcelona reached a verbal agreement on a contract until 2023 earning approximately €5million-per-year (£4.3m-per-year) as player salary. It’s been his dream to play alongside international teammate Lionel Messi which is about to come true and perhaps had a large role to play in the move from the English champions. Aguero’s preference was to move to the Spanish giants and has accepted a lower salary than was perhaps there for the taking at other clubs, but is said to receive a potential bonus if Barcelona win the Champions League.
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Back in 2014, Aguero said that the only way he will leave City is if they win the Champions League which could be achieved on 30th May which also happens to be the Argentine’s final game as a Manchester City player and it would be like a dream coming true and a fairytale ending to Aguero’s career as a Man City player if City manage to get past the in-form Chelsea in the Final.
This transfer also more importantly for many fans, means that the mercurial Lionel Messi, who has been speculated to leave the club, will stay on and receive more support up front with his fellow Argentine striker. Barcelona are also reportedly closing in on signing former Manchester United forward Memphis Depay, from Lyon whose contract expires this summer. Depay has confirmed to his lawyers that he wants to join the Spanish club.
[Image Credit: Sergio Aguero]
Suhail Chandhok
Vertical Head - Sports