Soccer: Manchester City have confirmed the signing of Argentina striker Sergio Aguero from Atletico Madrid on a five-year contract, paving the way for a possible appearance in the Dublin Super Cup this weekend. The Argentinean will reportedly earn around €220,000 a week.
No fee was confirmed by either club, but it is thought City have paid Atletico Madrid €38 million for Aguero, eclipsing their previous high of €35 million for Brazil forward Robinho in August 2008.
He becomes manager Roberto Mancini's third signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Arsenal defender Gael Clichy and Partizan Belgrade's Stefan Savic, and takes the Italian's spending in this window to €54 million.
Aguero had already declared himself a Manchester City player last night after a day of talks with club officials. And, speaking tonight after sealing the deal officially, the striker said he was ready to play in the Premier League.
"I don't think I'll have too many problems settling into the team," he told City's official website. "I'll obviously be doing my best to do what the manager asks and try to work the way he wants me to, and of course he will know how he wants to use me.
"Once I'm out on the field I will get to know my way round, but I can't say that for sure because I have not even made my debut yet. But I'm sure everything will be fine. I'm going to be relaxed about it."
The arrival of Diego Maradona's son-in-law once again opens up questions about the future of Carlos Tevez, for whom Aguero is seen as a natural replacement. Tevez is adamant he wants to leave to be nearer his wife and two daughters in Argentina, though he would also consider a move to Europe.
However, Inter Milan director Marco Branca today insisted the Italian club had no plans to sign the Argentina international after he was pictured meeting Tevez in Sardinia.
"There was only one meeting, and it was entirely fortuitous and enjoyable," he said. "But it happened on the beach and was not followed up."
That seems to leave Tevez without a suitor who can afford to buy him after the collapse of a deal with Corinthians. However, for now, City will focus on their new player.
Younger than Tevez by four years, the former Atletico star has been a prolific goalscorer in Spain's Primera Division and that is why he became one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe.
Atletico had resigned themselves to the fact they would lose their prized asset when he announced in May, before departing to play for Argentina in the Copa America, that he wanted to leave.
Aguero's preference was to remain in Spain, with city rivals Real seemingly the most likely destination, but Atletico were keen to resist such a move.
The offer from City represented a better option for the Madrid side, although Italian club Juventus were also interested.
While Aguero is still technically on holiday after playing in the Copa America and would not be required to return to training until next week, City have raised the possibility of him featuring in some capacity at the Aviva Stadium.
The club have named 27 players in their squad for the matches against an Airtricity League XI and Inter Milan — coincidentally the club now being linked with a move for wantaway Carlos Tevez, the man Aguero has been brought in to replace.
However, City have also left one space open and it is among their strikers, with the list published on the club’s website stating “plus one other” after naming forwards Mario Balotelli, Edin Dzeko, John Guidetti and Andrea Mancini.
