Real Madrid have reportedly set their sights on Manchester City’s Argentine hitman, Sergio Aguero.
The 28-year-old, who was recently left out of Pep Guardiola’s side against Barcelona at the Camp Nou, is apparently on the Los Blancos’ wish list for next summer, despite their current transfer ban.
The Argentine, who has scored a very impressive 149 goals in just 222 appearances would be a very shrewd addition for Real indeed, considering current frontman Karim Benzema’s struggles in front of goal this season.
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The Spanish giants are still busy lining up potential targets for next summer, despite the FIFA-imposed embargo on signings. Borrusia Dortmund ace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, left out of the squad for their Champions League clash against Sporting Lisbon due to “internal reasons”, being another one of them.
The Dortmund star was also strongly linked to a transfer to the Bernabeu giants last summer.
Aguero still has three and a half years to run on his current deal and insists he is happy at City, who have no intention of selling him.
The Argentine international signed from Atletico Madrid for £32 million in 2011, was surprisingly left out of the clash against Barcelona in Spain.
Aguero says he respects Guardiola’s decision of dropping him
Upon asked about his omission, Aguero responded, “I’m never angry. I respect every manager’s decision. He said it was a tactical thing and I obviously respect that. When I went on the pitch I tried to give my best and then train hard to be ready for the next game. But no one was in a bad mood.”
“I’ve experienced many different important nights, and today was another one that not only me but the whole team enjoyed. We also could feel the support from the fans, and that was important for our confidence. It was a nice game for the memories,” said Aguero after City’s triumph over Barcelona this week.
After being reinstated to the starting 11, he was instrumental in City’s pressing game in the reverse fixture at the Etihad that saw them run out 3-1 winners, after initially falling back due to Lionel Messi’s opener.
We need Aguero, says Guardiola
Guardiola, meanwhile, was also full of praise for Aguero, comparing his finishing to his former protégé Lionel Messi.
He can also be quoted as having said: “We need him. Without him we cannot achieve our target, it is impossible."
“In the box ,he is at that level,” insisted Guardiola. “To convince him, he has to believe how good he is and how we need him. He has to try. It is not about how many he scores because we are happy with the scoring. I am talking about he has to feel how important he is for us. When he is happy the team is happy. When he is good everything can happen in our team,” said the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager
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Aguero is held in very high regard in the blue half of Manchester, with his winning goal against QPR in 2012 one-upping their arch-rivals, United and granting them their first ever Premier League title, thereby cementing his place as a legend for the club.
Real, who only recently handed their Welsh marksman Gareth Bale a bumper contract earlier this week, tying him to the club till 2022, are desperate to improve their striking options and Aguero and Aubameyang are the likely front-runners if they decide to strengthen up front.
