Sergio Agüero’s chances of playing another domestic game for Manchester City this season may be over after he had knee surgery on Wednesday in Barcelona that is expected to keep him out for five or six weeks.
Agüero was injured during Monday’s 5-0 win over Burnley and had been hopeful of missing no more than a month but the operation is set to keep him out for longer. The Premier League season ends in four and a half weeks and the FA Cup final, which City could reach, is the following weekend.
The club’s Champions League campaign resumes in just over six weeks with a last-16 second leg against Real Madrid on 7 or 8 August.
Guardiola said Dr Ramon Cugat was overseeing the surgery and that the precise length of Agüero’s absence should soon be apparent. Agüero tweeted to say “everything went well”.
Guardiola is confident Gabriel Jesus can replace Agüero, though Ilkay Gündogan, Raheem Sterling or Bernardo Silva will also be deployed at No 9 because of the regularity of matches.
Sergio Kun Aguero
(@aguerosergiokun)Todo salió bien y pronto comenzaré con la recuperación. Muchas gracias al Dr. Cugat y a su equipo y a todos por tanto apoyo//Everything went well, and I’ll soon begin recovery. A big thanks to Dr Cugat and his team – and to all of you for your support 🤟🏽 pic.twitter.com/Frm07cN3WF
June 24, 2020
“We don’t have any doubts about Gabriel,” the manager said . “The only doubt is that not one single player can play every three days. Raheem can play in this position, even Gündogan and Bernardo. Not like a [proper] striker but we can use them.”
Agüero has one more year at least at City, with his contract due to expire in summer 2021, but Guardiola is intent Jesus should remain at the club even if the Brazilian’s playing time is limited.
“We want to keep him and we’re delighted at what he is as a player and a person in the locker room,” he said. “An exceptional guy. A young player, we’re delighted. We have no doubts with or without Agüero. We have two incredible strikers. [And also] Gabriel’s can play with Agüero.”