Aguero to leave Man City

Record goalscorer Sergio Aguero will leave Manchester City at the end of the season, the club has announced. 

According to BBC, the 32-year-old striker's contract expires at the end of the season and he has been told it will not be renewed.

Aguero, who joined City from Atletico Madrid in 2011, is sure to attract the interest of a number of top clubs with Barcelona and Paris St-Germain linked with potential moves for the 32-year-old, Goal reported.

The Argentine has scored 257 goals in 384 appearances for the club.

He will be honoured by a statue at Etihad Stadium, alongside Vincent Kompany and David Silva, BBC reported.

Aguero has played a leading role in City's renaissance in recent years, famously scoring the injury-time winner against QPR in 2012 which clinched the club's first English title in 44 years.

Since then, he has helped City win three more Premier League titles, one FA Cup and five League Cups.

"Sergio's contribution to Manchester City over the last 10 years cannot be overstated," City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said.

"His legend will be indelibly etched into the memories of everyone who loves the club and maybe even in those who simply love football."

Aguero was keen to stay but has started just five Premier League and Champions League matches this season after being troubled by illness and injury.

After suffering a knee injury in the first game of Project Lockdown in June, he had surgery which ruled him out until October.

He then had a hamstring setback and missed another 10 games because of coronavirus regulations and has been struggling to prove his match sharpness.

With 257 goals from 384 appearances, Aguero is the club's record goalscorer overtaking Eric Brook's 78-year record in 2017.

He also provided the most iconic moment in the history of the club - and possibly the Premier League - when his last-minute winner against QPR in the final game of the 2012 season secured the title from Manchester United on goal difference.

Aguero is the highest scoring overseas player in Premier League history - and fourth overall - and has won 10 major trophies during his time at the Etihad Stadium.

He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of the Premier League era and is the competition's most lethal goalscorer in terms of goals scored per minutes played.

"When a cycle comes to an end, may sensations arise," Aguero said on Twitter

"A huge sense of satisfaction and pride remains in me for having played with Manchester City for a whole ten seasons - unusual for a professional player in this day and age," Sergio Aguero wrote on social media.

"Ten seasons with major achievements, throughout which I was able to become the top historic goalscorer and forging an indestructible bond with all those who love this club - people who will always be in my heart.

"I was to join during the reconstruction era of 2011, and with the guidance of the owners and the contributions of many players, we earned a place among the greatest in the world.

"The task to maintain this well-deserved privileged position will remain on other. As for myself, I will continue to give it my utmost for the rest of the season to win more titles and bring more joy to the fans.

"Then, a new stage with new challenges will begin and I am fully ready to face them with the same passion and professionalism that I have always dedicated to continue competing at the highest level."

Pep Guardiola have coped without Aguero's presence for most of the season although he believes he can still make a contribution in the final two months as City compete for trophies in four competitions.

But the Premier League leaders were always likely to consider signing a new forward in the summer.

Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland is believed to be high on the list of potential targets when the transfer window opens.