Pep Guardiola issues hands-off warning to Chelsea over Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero
Citizens boss insists Argentine hitman will not leaving the Etihad this summer even if Alexis Sanchez joins
PEP GUARDIOLA has issued a firm hands-off warning to clubs interested in Sergio Aguero.
The Manchester City striker has been linked with a move away from the Etihad ever since the arrival of Gabriel Jesus in January.
Chelsea are the latest club to be linked with the Argentine hitman.
But Guardiola has moved to firmly slam the door shut on the possibility of Aguero leaving this summer.
Speaking in Houston, Texas ahead of facing neighbours Manchester United in the International Champions Cup, he left supporters in no doubts about his intentions.
Guardiola said: “You know my opinion on Sergio.
“I said many times last season and he’s our player. He will remain here.”
Despite constant speculation about his future he still managed to find the net 33 times for City.
Chelsea’s pursuit of the striker now appears to be at an end after they agreed a £68million fee with Real Madrid for Alvaro Morata.
Meanwhile, Guardiola has not given up hope of bolstering his strikeforce further before the end of the transfer window.
He is trying to recruit Alexis Sanchez from rivals Arsenal, and he was coy on the subject when quizzed about the deal’s progress.
He added: “Alexis plays for Arsenal, so Arsene said that.
“He knows more than me, so unfortunately the market finishes August 31.
“It should finish at the start of the season because it’s too long.
Sergio Aguero factfile
- Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on June 2, 1988
- Came through the system at Argentine club Independiente and broke into the first-team in 2003, after six years
- Signed for Atletico Madrid after three seasons at Independiente
- Won the Europa League, Intertoto Cup and Uefa Super Cup during his time at Atletico
- Was named World Soccer Young Player of the Year in 2009
- Signed for Manchester City in 2011 for £31.5million
- Won Man City their first Premier League title in his first season, scoring a dramatic last-minute winner against QPR on the final day of the season to beat neighbours United
- Won the Prem again in 2014, as well as two League Cups and the Community Shield during his time at the club
- Golden Boot winner in 2015
Alexis Sanchez factfile
- Born in Tocopilla, Chile on December 19, 1988
- Began his career in Chilean club Cobreloa, breaking into the first-team after one year in 2005
- Signed for Italian club Udinese in 2006 and spent one season on loan at Colo-Colo in his home country, then another at Argentine club River Plate
- Signed for Barcleona in 2011 in a £23million deal
- Won La Liga, the Copa del Rey, Supercopa, Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Club World Cup during three seasons at the Nou Camp
- Signed for Arsenal in 2014 for £35million
- Won the FA Cup in 2015 and 2017, as well as the Community Shield in 2014 and 2015
- Claimed the Cop America Cup in 2015 and 2016
- Named PFA Fans’ Player of the Year in 2015
“We have two really good strikers in Sergio and Gabriel Jesus so, in that terms, we are good, it’s not about a striker.
“The problem was last season Gabriel was out for a long time and we would like to see both of them together.”
