City are getting a talisman who can provide the impetus for
them to take the final step into the elite of the European
game
It is little wonder Manchester City fans turned out at
the Etihad Stadium last night to celebrate the arrival of Sergio
Aguero.
This, after all, is the striking wonder who has already pushed
City’s current captain, Carlos Tevez, out of the Argentina
team.
The attacking sensation who has been hailed as the new Diego
Maradona - whose youngest daughter, Giannina, he married. And the
player who was highly-sought all over Europe before City convinced
him they were a better bet than either Real Madrid or Juventus.
City are not just getting one of the most exciting strikers in
the world for their record £40million outlay. They are also,
apparently, getting a talisman who can provide the impetus for them
to take the final step into the elite of the European game.
The signing of Aguero promises a huge impact, as the crowds in
Manchester last night suggested. By signing a similar player to
Tevez, but one who is younger, quicker and with far more potential,
City are upgrading.
The facts that Aguero has replaced Tevez in their country’s
forward line and is rated more highly back home adds to the sense
of moving onwards and upwards for the club’s supporters.
In the Copa America, Aguero started the tournament alongside his
friend and – however briefly – new club team-mate, but then
replaced him as a like-for-like striker playing in a deeper role.
That seems certain to happen at City, too.
Aguero started breaking records when he was just 15 years and 35
days old, while he was at Independiente.
His then-coach, Oscar Ruggeri, made him the Argentinian first
division’s youngest-ever player, beating a 27-year-old record held
by his future father-in-law.
He scored 18 goals in 36 games during the 2005-06 season, which
was good enough to persuade Atletico Madrid to splash out £20m on
him.
“Signing with Atletico was one of the best decisions of my
life,” said Aguero. “It helped me become stronger, both physically
and mentally, on and off the pitch.”
In his second season in Madrid, he scored 19 times in a fearsome
partnership with Diego Forlan as Atletico qualified for the
Champions League.
Last year, he set up both goals for Forlan as Atletico destroyed
Fulham in the Europa League final – a stat that surprised fans,
because he is known for scoring goals not providing assists.
Then, last season, he scored 20 goals in La Liga. Only two
players managed more – Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
If City can get the £40m they want for Tevez from Corinthians
or, as now seems more likely, Inter Milan, then they will have
upgraded without spending any money.
That would be a coup to not only excite the fans who turned out
to cheer the player’s name yesterday, but to also inspire the stars
already at the club who are looking for signs of progress to the
next level.
It is a point conceded by Gareth Barry, the man who is most
likely to replace Tevez as skipper at Eastlands.
He said: “Aguero is a very exciting player – a class act, and
names like that will excite fans and the players.”
It is no coincidence that chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak took the
unusual step of becoming directly involved in negotiations to bring
the Argentine from Atletico for the second-highest fee in British
transfer history.
City owner Sheikh Mansour himself senses that this summer’s
transfer window is pivotal, not only defining the club’s immediate
future but setting the tone for next season and beyond.
With the Blues now resigned to Tevez’s exit, Sheikh Mansour
knows the loss of such an important player could backfire
dramatically.
But the fact the Blues have beaten both Real and Juve to the
capture of Aguero speaks volumes about their intent and about the
attractiveness of their buying power, even in Tevez’s absence.
Those two clubs are firmly established in the top tier of the
game, but both dithered over the £40m buy-out clause, while City
acted decisively.
Such action has not only diverted a potential crisis, it has
posted a strong statement – and there is more to come.
When Tevez does go, either in a big-money switch to Inter or,
more likely, with his tail between his legs in a loan move back to
South America, it will free up more capital to be invested in
further big name talent, with Samir Nasri still on City’s shopping
list.
