Manchester City may have gone 16 games without losing in the Premier League but there are allegedly rumblings of discontent at the Etihad, or at least that’s according to The Sun.
The paper drops a Christmas bombshell with its claim that Sergio Aguero could leave the Citizens next month because the 29-year-old “feels he is not valued” by Pep Guardiola.
The paper noted that when Aguero was replaced by Gabriel Jesus during the their 4-1 thrashing of Tottenham on Saturday he “threw his gloves in the air”.
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That, surmises the Sun, is a sure sign that he is unsettled and apparently Real Madrid could soon be welcoming the sharpshooter to the Bernabeu.
Reports in Spain claim that while Aguero enjoys life in Manchester he doesn’t believe he gets the respect he deserves from Guardiola. The City coach was asked about Aguero’s sulky reaction to being subbed after Saturday’s game, and he replied: “That’s normal. The players want to play and I can understand him.”
Asked why he had hauled off Aguero, Guardiola said: “In that moment I needed a little more energy with Gabriel in that position that’s why I took that decision.”
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane is an admirer of Aguero and with the European champions in need of some fresh firepower, the Sun says a bid could be tabled in the near future.
Meanwhile The Guardian reports that City are ready to offer Kevin De Bruyne a new contract, “with the club adamant he will not be sold to Real Madrid, Barcelona or any other rival, even if an astronomical offer is received”.
De Bruyne has been a key factor in the club’s sensational season and there have been mutterings from Spain that he is on the radar of Barca and Real, with both clubs apparently ready to table bids in excess of £100million for the 26-year-old.
But the Guardian says Guardiola regards him as an integral member of his squad and to secure his loyalty a new contract will be offered to him next month.
Currently on a modest wage of £115,000-a-week, De Bruyne will see his wages rocket to £210,000 per week should he choose to sign the six-year deal.
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