- Manchester City announces striker Sergio Aguero will leave the club at the end of the season
- Aguero has started just twice since October amid a rash of injuries
- Aguero is City’s all-time leading scorer with 257 goals
No single player has meant more to Manchester City over the past decade than Sergio Aguero. The star striker was one of City’s first major signings following the club’s big-money takeover back in 2011. Since then, City have gone on to enjoy an unprecedented amount of success, including four Premier League titles. City are virtual locks to make it five this season.
While Aguero has remained one of the only constants over the course of City’s impressive decade-long run, his time with the club is officially set to come to a close. On Monday, the club announced that Aguero will leave the team at the end of the current season.
— Sergio Kun Aguero (@aguerosergiokun) March 29, 2021
The 32-year-old’s contract is set to expire in June, and City are prepared to let him leave on a free transfer. City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said,
“Sergio’s contribution to Manchester City over the last 10 years cannot be overstated. His legend will be indelibly etched into the memories of everyone who loves the Club and maybe even in those who simply love football. This is not yet the moment for farewell words and speeches. There is still much to achieve in the remainder of the time we have with Sergio, and we look forward to his contributions to the challenges which lay ahead.”
Aguero has been hampered by injury issues for the past couple of seasons. He has appeared in just eight league games so far this term, with just one goal to show for it. Aguero has appeared in Pep Guardiola’s starting XI just twice since October.
When his time with the club is finished, Aguero will surely be remembered along with David Silva, Vincent Kompany, and Yaya Toure as the best players to ever don a Manchester City shirt. Aguero was just 23 at the time he joined the club back in 2011, when he came over from Atletico Madrid for a fee of £38 million.
Aguero’s Astounding Track Record
That has proven to be one of the most profitable signings in Premier League history. Across 271 appearances with the club, Aguero has scored 181 Premier League goals. In addition to what will be five Premier League titles, Aguero has also helped City to a victory in the FA Cup (2017-18) and five league cup triumphs. City also took the FA Community Shield in 2012, 2018, and 2019. Aguero has scored a total of 257 goals with the club in all competitions, which makes him Manchester City’s all-time scoring leader by a massive margin. The team’s next-best scorer is Eric Brook, who bagged 177 goals for the club between 1927 and 1940.
Aguero only won one Premier League Golden Boot (2014-15) during his time with City, but he annually ranked as one of the league’s most prolific goal-scoring threats. The Argentina international scored at least 20 league goals in six different seasons, including five straight between 2014 and 2019.
Aguero’s time with the club has been in question since Gabriel Jesus was signed away from Palmeiras back in 2017. Jesus has long been seen as Aguero’s ultimate successor at the club, and he has since replaced Aguero as Guardiola’s first-choice striker. The Brazil international has scored seven goals in 21 league appearances so far this season.
Can City Win Champions League?
The rest of the season is just a formality when it comes to City winning another title. The Citizens will exit the international break with a 14-point lead over Manchester United atop the Premier League table. City have accrued 71 points from 30 matches in the league, though the team’s primary focus will be on securing European glory for the first time. A Champions League trophy is one of the few pieces of hardware that has eluded the club during Aguero’s stint. City will take on Borussia Dortmund in the quarterfinals of this year’s Champions League early next month.
Manchester City are currently listed at +225 to win the Champions League this season, which gives them the best odds of any team left in the field. Bayern Munich (+300), Liverpool (+500), and Chelsea (+525) are among the favorites, as well.
Aguero will be remembered by Manchester City supporters for countless reasons, but his title-winning goal back in 2011 is one of the most iconic moments in Premier League history. In the last match of the season, Aguero found the back of the net in the 94th minute of the team’s match against Queen Park Rangers to win the league for the first time ever.
Taylor Smith
Taylor Smith has been a staff writer with GamblingSites.org since early 2017. Taylor is primarily a sports writer, though he will occasionally dabble in other things like politics and entertainment betting. His primary specialties are writing about the NBA, Major League Baseball, NFL and domestic and international soccer. Fringe sports like golf and horse racing aren’t exactly his cup of tea, bu …
