") no-repeat center center;background-size:10px 16px;content:' '}@media(min-width:768px){.gBkjJh::before{display:none}}@media(min-width:1000px){.iZwHvr .taboola{display:none}}.iZwHvr:has(#taboola-carousel-thumbnails){min-height:426px}.iZwHvr:has(#taboola-mid-article-thumbnails-crime){min-height:405px}@media(min-width:1000px){.iZwHvr:has(#taboola-carousel-thumbnails),.iZwHvr:has(#taboola-mid-article-thumbnails-crime){min-height:0}}.jImJId .tp-container-inner,.jImJId .sc-1suqprf-0{position:relative;box-shadow:0 -22px 16px 22px rgba(255,255,255,0.95)}.jImJId.closed{display:none}.jNXFXZ{width:32px;color:#3b5998}@media(min-width:768px){.jNXFXZ.mobile-only{display:none}}.jNXFXZ:hover{color:#2f4779}.ksPZud{width:32px;color:#000}@media(min-width:768px){.ksPZud.mobile-only{display:none}}.ksPZud:hover{color:#4e4e4e}.SVrrg{width:32px;color:#25d366}@media(min-width:768px){.SVrrg.mobile-only{display:none}}.SVrrg:hover{color:#1da851}.pOgFh{width:32px;color:#ec1a2e}@media(min-width:768px){.pOgFh.mobile-only{display:none}}.pOgFh:hover{color:#ac2a2c}.dJrOFo{display:flex;gap:12px}.eZumoJ{position:fixed;top:0;left:0;z-index:2147483644;background:rgba(0,0,0,0.5);cursor:pointer;opacity:0;transition:opacity 300ms ease-in-out}.eZumoJ.overlay-background--open{width:100vw;height:100vh;opacity:1}.dRVLpc{--trans:300ms ease-in-out;position:fixed;top:0;left:0;z-index:2147483645;width:100vw;height:100vh;opacity:0;pointer-events:none;transform:translateY(-24px);transform-origin:top center;transition:transform var(--trans),opacity var(--trans)}.dRVLpc.overlay--open{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0);transition-delay:150ms}.dRVLpc.overlay--open>:first-child{pointer-events:auto}.cWTSTp .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:none}.cWTSTp:hover .sc-17yxc4y-0,.cWTSTp.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:block}.cWTSTp:hover .sc-17yxc4y-1,.cWTSTp.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:none}.cWTSTp.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:block}.cWTSTp.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:none}.cWTSTp.bookmark-button-saved:hover .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:none}.cWTSTp.bookmark-button-saved:hover .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:block}.eoIBc{--margin-x:12px;--modal-width:calc(100% - (var(--margin-x) * 2));--modal-max-width:351px;--padding:60px 16px 42px;--line-height:1.25;display:flex;position:fixed;top:50%;left:50%;overflow:auto;width:var(--modal-width);max-width:var(--modal-max-width);max-height:100vh;box-sizing:border-box;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;justify-content:center;padding:var(--padding);background-color:#eaf2f2;box-shadow:0 1px 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);line-height:var(--line-height);transform:translate(-50%,-50%)}@media(min-width:768px){.eoIBc{--modal-width:600px;--modal-max-width:none;--padding:72px 80px 64px;--line-height:1.2}}@media(min-width:1000px){.eoIBc{--modal-width:635px}}.fNhASP{--close-button-margin:16px;position:absolute;top:var(--close-button-margin);right:var(--close-button-margin)}@media(min-width:768px){.fNhASP{--close-button-margin:24px}}.caBZHW{width:100%;max-width:437px;margin-bottom:20px}@media(min-width:768px){.caBZHW{margin-bottom:18px}}.dgWryu{position:absolute;overflow:hidden;width:.01em;height:.01em;padding:0;border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);white-space:nowrap}.eUOcMf{width:100%;margin:0}.dEYNzg{margin:0 0 30px;font:bold 26px/1.15 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif}@media(min-width:768px){.dEYNzg{font:bold 28px/1.15 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif}}.itdeLI{display:block;width:100%;padding:0;margin:0 0 30px;font:normal 16px/1.44 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.itdeLI{font:normal 20px/1.44 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}.funPAy{display:block;margin-top:30px;color:#222;font:normal 16px/normal 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.bXVQbr{padding:0}.GwNrt{display:inline-block;width:32px;height:32px;color:#337e81}.cJKiex{display:flex;flex-direction:row;justify-content:center;gap:12px}.frITsM{display:flex;position:relative;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.frITsM{justify-content:flex-end;padding-top:12px;margin:0}}.frITsM.amp-social-share svg{width:60%;height:60%;margin:20%;fill:#fff}.frITsM.amp-social-share [type='facebook'] svg,.frITsM.amp-social-share [title='bookmark'] svg{width:100%;height:100%;margin:0}.frITsM.amp-social-share amp-social-share{margin:0 6px;border-radius:50%;background:0;outline:0}.frITsM.amp-social-share amp-social-share:first-of-type{margin-left:0}.frITsM.amp-social-share amp-social-share:last-of-type{margin-right:0}@media(min-width:768px){.frITsM.amp-social-share .share-mobile-only{display:none}}.frITsM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-bookmark svg{display:block;width:100%;height:100%;margin:0}.frITsM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-bookmark:hover{opacity:.85}.frITsM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-facebook{background:#3b5998}.frITsM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-facebook:hover{background:#2f4779}.frITsM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-twitter{--color:#000;--color-alt:#4e4e4e;background:var(--color)}.frITsM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-twitter:hover{background:var(--color-alt)}.frITsM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-whatsapp{background:#25d366}.frITsM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-whatsapp:hover{background:#1da851}.frITsM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-whatsapp svg{width:70%;height:auto;margin:15%}.frITsM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-email{background:#ec1a2e}.frITsM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-email:hover{background:#ac2a2c}.frITsM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-email svg path{stroke:#fff}.kdvWjb{display:flex}.sticky .kdvWjb{flex-direction:column}.bfkmcy{overflow:hidden;height:23px;margin-bottom:8px;border-bottom:0;clear:both}@media(min-width:768px){.bfkmcy{height:25px}}.fczuIa{display:inline-block;flex-shrink:0;margin:0 12px 0 0;font:bold 14px/normal 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.fczuIa::after{content:':'}.IOUwh{display:inline-block;margin-right:12px;margin-bottom:4px;color:#222;font:normal 14px/1.29 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration:underline}.IOUwh::first-letter {text-transform:capitalize}@media(min-width:1000px){.subscribed .bwpCMN{margin-top:-184px}.article-feature:not(.article-feature-video) .subscribed .bwpCMN{margin-top:-407px}}.bwpCMN>p{margin:16px 0}.article-premium .bwpCMN>p{line-height:27px}.bwpCMN>h2{font-size:21px}.article-climate .bwpCMN>h2{color:#ec1a2e}.article-sgi .bwpCMN>h2{color:#ec1a2e}.bwpCMN>p:first-child{margin-top:0}.bwpCMN span:first-child~p:first-of-type{margin-top:0}.hQjaQn{display:flex;position:relative;max-width:100%;min-height:600px;justify-content:center;margin:0 auto;background-color:transparent;clear:both}@media(min-width:1000px){.hQjaQn{min-height:450px}}.teads .hQjaQn{display:block}.hQjaQn [data-mpu]{position:sticky;top:16px}@media(min-width:1000px){.jZcooN{display:none}}.jZcooN[data-mpu1]{min-height:600px}.jZcooN.pb-20{padding-bottom:20px}.hlPMMm{margin:0 0 24px;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.euTVax{font:bold 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.jBfdop{overflow:hidden;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;margin-bottom:16px}@media(min-width:768px){.jBfdop{max-width:634px}}@media(min-width:1250px){.jBfdop{max-width:622px}}.hKRbzg{width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;padding:8px 12px 12px;border-top:8px solid #ec1a2e;background-color:#fde8ea}@media(min-width:768px){.hKRbzg{padding-top:4px;padding-bottom:12px}}.cKIkhp{font:bold 22px/26px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;margin:0 0 12px;text-align:center}@media(min-width:768px){.cKIkhp{font:bold 30px/34px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.048px;margin-bottom:12px;text-align:left}}.feSJtK{display:block;margin-bottom:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.feSJtK{display:none}}.bErStG{display:flex;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px;background-color:#fde8ea;color:#ec1a2e}@media(min-width:768px){.bErStG{width:auto;justify-content:flex-start}}.vaVnf{display:block;font:bold 14px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration-line:underline;margin-block:0;text-align:center}.jWuFRk{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px}.jWuFRk:hover .sc-hez36s-5,.jWuFRk:hover .sc-a5wy94-0{color:#ac2a2c}.hKrnEq{font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.dWUzhG{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column}@media(min-width:768px){.dWUzhG{display:flow-root;gap:24px;transition:margin-bottom .3s ease-in-out}}.bDgIJb{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.bDgIJb{position:relative;z-index:1;width:212px;flex-shrink:0;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:24px;float:right}}.EYumw{display:none;flex-direction:row;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px}@media(min-width:768px){.EYumw{display:flex;margin-top:12px}}.kCOwPr{display:flex;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.kCOwPr{display:none}}.iGXncB{display:flex;overflow:hidden;height:0;flex-direction:column;gap:8px;opacity:0;transition:all .3s ease-in-out}@media(min-width:768px){.iGXncB{display:flex;position:relative;width:auto;height:40px;order:-1;opacity:1;transition-behavior:allow-discrete}.iGXncB::after{--fade-from:rgba(253,232,234,0);--fade-to:#fde8ea;position:absolute;bottom:0;left:0;z-index:1;width:100%;height:40px;background-image:linear-gradient(to bottom,var(--fade-from),var(--fade-to));content:'';opacity:1;transition:opacity 150ms ease-out}}@media(min-width:768px){.doTReP{order:-1}}.ggPDxB{display:none;padding-top:8px;margin-top:16px;border-top:1px solid #919191}@media(max-width:767px){.ggPDxB{display:flex}}.gibhIT{display:none}@media(min-width:768px){.gibhIT{display:flex;position:relative;align-items:flex-start;margin-top:12px}}.dxwzhm{display:flex;min-height:600px;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:1000px){.dxwzhm{min-height:450px}}.gHNATZ{min-height:600px}@media(min-width:1000px){.gHNATZ{min-height:450px}}.gHNATZ.mobile-only{display:block}@media(min-width:1000px){.gHNATZ.mobile-only{display:none}}.gHNATZ.desktop-only{display:none}@media(min-width:1000px){.gHNATZ.desktop-only{display:block;margin-bottom:16px}}.gHNATZ.desktop-only+p{margin-top:0}.gHNATZ .third-party-ad{position:sticky;top:16px}.bJycyU{width:100%;flex-grow:1}.bJycyU .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide]{display:block;overflow:hidden;max-height:360px}.bJycyU .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide] .social-share{display:none}.bJycyU .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide].show-all-content{max-height:100%}@media(max-width:594px){.bJycyU .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide]{max-height:530px}}.bJycyU .amp-newsletter-reg-gate{position:relative;left:-12px;width:calc(100% + 24px)}.bJycyU .social-share{width:100%;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:20px}@media(min-width:768px){.bJycyU .social-share{justify-content:flex-start}}.bJycyU .social-share.sticky{display:none}@media(min-width:1000px){.bJycyU .social-share.sticky{display:flex;position:sticky;top:14px;width:34px;flex-direction:column;padding-top:0;margin-top:0;margin-left:-25%}.bJycyU .social-share.sticky amp-social-share,.bJycyU .social-share.sticky .sc-mgcah7-0{margin:0 0 16px}.article-feature-video .bJycyU .social-share.sticky{margin-top:0}.article-feature:not(.article-feature-video) .bJycyU .social-share.sticky{margin-top:35%}}.bJycyU.sponsored-article img,.bJycyU.sponsored-article video{width:100%;max-width:602px;height:auto}.bJycyU.sponsored-article iframe{max-width:602px;max-height:400px}.bJycyU .under-article-prompt-donations{padding-bottom:8px;margin-top:-3px}.bJycyU .big-letter{--color:#222;display:flex;position:relative;width:0;height:0;align-items:center;justify-content:center;padding:40px;margin-top:22px;margin-right:12px;border:1px solid var(--color);float:left;font:normal 52px/1 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;text-transform:uppercase}.bJycyU .big-letter:first-child{margin-top:6px}.bJycyU .big-letter::before{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid var(--color);border-radius:50%;content:''}.bJycyU #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:2350px}@media(min-width:768px){.bJycyU #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:3370px}}.bJycyU #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:130px}@media(min-width:768px){.bJycyU #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:415px}}.bJycyU .sc-fwko30-0+.sc-1xtsh2b-0{margin-top:-16px}@media(min-width:768px){.bJycyU{max-width:636px;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.bJycyU{max-width:624px;margin:0}.bJycyU.subscribed{max-width:636px}}@media(max-width:999px){.bJycyU{padding-right:0}.bJycyU .under-article-prompt-donations{margin-top:-18px}}.bJycyU .anchor-nav-header{scroll-margin-top:79px}.bJycyU .anchor-nav-header a{color:#222}.bJycyU .anchor-nav-header a:hover{color:#222}.kvSKnI{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:8px;color:#646464;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.kvSKnI{width:70%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:0;font:normal 16px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.kvSKnI{width:70%;margin-bottom:0}}.eXEVFg{display:flex;height:20px;margin:0 12px 8px 0}.article-voices .eXEVFg{height:auto}@media(min-width:425px){.article-voices .eXEVFg{height:20px}}.eXEVFg::before{display:inline-block;align-self:center;margin-top:1px;margin-right:12px;content:'\2022';transform:scale(1.5)}.eXEVFg:first-child::before{content:none}@media(min-width:768px){.eXEVFg{height:24px;margin-bottom:0}.eXEVFg::before{margin-top:2px}}.eXEVFg time{display:block}.eXEVFg time::first-letter {text-transform:capitalize}.eIoMWw{display:inline-block;margin:0 12px 8px 0;color:#ec1a2e;font:bold 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;letter-spacing:-0.5px}.eIoMWw:hover,.eIoMWw:active{color:#ac2a2c}@media(min-width:768px){.eIoMWw{margin-bottom:0}}.hBKmwt{margin:0 12px 8px -8px}@media(min-width:768px){.hBKmwt{margin-bottom:0}}.enHDwq{margin:0 4px 8px 0}.enHDwq::before{display:inline-block;margin-top:2px;margin-right:12px;color:#646464;content:'\2022';transform:scale(1.5)}.enHDwq:first-child::before{display:none}@media(min-width:768px){.enHDwq{margin-bottom:0}}.hfnwMY{display:flex;justify-content:flex-start;padding:0;margin:0 0 16px}@media(min-width:768px){.hfnwMY{display:flex;width:30%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-end;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.hfnwMY{width:30%}}.hrDjjf{padding-top:0;border-top:0;border-bottom:0}@media(min-width:768px){.hrDjjf{display:flex;flex-flow:row wrap;padding-bottom:16px}.hrDjjf .sc-1qz44j0-0{order:1}.hrDjjf .sc-1qz44j0-10{order:2}}@media(min-width:1000px){.hrDjjf{flex-direction:row}}.dlBKBu{padding:16px 12px 12px;text-align:left;font:bold 14px/18px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.dlBKBu{padding:16px 16px 12px}}.article-infact .dlBKBu{padding:16px 0}@media(min-width:1000px){.dlBKBu{padding:24px 0 19px}.article-feature .dlBKBu{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto}}.dlBKBu a{color:#222}.dlBKBu a:hover{color:#ac2a2c}.dlBKBu a:hover::after{color:#222}.dlBKBu a::after{margin-right:4px;margin-left:4px;content:'>'}.dlBKBu a:last-child::after{display:none}.azcVx{margin:0 0 20px;letter-spacing:0}.VFZbw{margin:0;color:#646464;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.VFZbw{font:normal 18px/22px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.VFZbw{font:normal 20px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}.VFZbw p{font:inherit}.article-feature .VFZbw a{font-weight:bold}.fKNoab{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto;background:#fff}@media(min-width:1000px){.fKNoab{padding:0 16px}.parallax .fKNoab{max-width:1240px}}.bJjAgi{font:bold 32px/36px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0156em}@media(min-width:768px){.bJjAgi{font:bold 44px/48px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0113em}}@media(min-width:1000px){.bJjAgi{font:bold 54px/58px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0092em}}.dufPYg .sc-qvufca-0{margin:0 12px}@media(min-width:768px){.dufPYg .sc-qvufca-0{max-width:968px;margin-right:16px;margin-left:16px}}@media(min-width:1000px){.dufPYg .sc-qvufca-0{margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto}}.dufPYg .sc-qvufca-2{margin-bottom:16px;color:#222}@media(min-width:768px){.dufPYg .sc-qvufca-2{margin-bottom:18px}}@media(min-width:1000px){.dufPYg .sc-qvufca-2{margin-top:0}}.article-feature .dufPYg .sc-qvufca-2{text-align:center}@media(min-width:1000px){.article-feature .dufPYg .sc-qvufca-2{max-width:968px}}.dufPYg .sc-aeekvc-0{margin-bottom:16px}@media(min-width:1000px){.dufPYg .sc-aeekvc-0{max-width:968px}}.dufPYg .sc-aeekvc-0 p{margin-top:0}@media(min-width:768px){.dufPYg .sc-aeekvc-0 p{margin-bottom:16px}}@media(min-width:2560px){.dufPYg .sc-aeekvc-0 p{margin-bottom:12px}}.dyGKzS{--bleed:12px;display:flex;box-sizing:border-box;flex-direction:row;gap:32px;padding:16px var(--bleed);background-color:#fff}.article-liveblog .dyGKzS{background-color:#f7f7f7}@media(min-width:768px){.dyGKzS{--bleed:0;max-width:1000px;margin:0 auto}}@media(min-width:1000px){.dyGKzS{--bleed:16px;max-width:1000px;padding:var(--bleed)}}.gIldS{overflow:hidden;height:0;color:transparent}.kFPmfF{max-width:100%;margin:0 0 20px}.kFPmfF.sticky{position:sticky;top:16px}.iaRZct{min-height:600px}.iaRZct #mpu1{position:sticky;top:16px}.bFiDnI{min-height:250px}.jAzEot{max-width:100%}.eDScvc{margin:0 0 6px;color:#646464;font-family:'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;font-size:15px}.CmSgF{margin:0 0 12px}.lbFVDq{height:380px}.bsSHYO{width:100%;height:51px}.bjKtIv{margin-bottom:16px;border-bottom:1px solid #919191}.jLzsCV{margin-bottom:16px}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']{position:relative;margin-bottom:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #d3d3d3}.jLzsCV [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0{display:flex;position:absolute;bottom:16px;left:10px;width:32px;height:32px;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border-radius:50%;background-color:#ec1a2e}.jLzsCV [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0>svg{width:90%;fill:#fff;stroke:transparent}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:first-child{display:block;padding-bottom:0;margin-bottom:12px}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:first-child .sc-u4n1j-0{top:-15px;bottom:auto;left:12px;width:35px;height:35px}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:first-child>*:first-child{display:block;width:100%;height:205px}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:first-child>*:last-child{position:absolute;bottom:0;width:100%;padding:28px 12px 12px;background:linear-gradient(to top,#222 50%,rgba(34,34,34,0.9) 100%) no-repeat;color:#fff;font-size:17px;font-weight:bold}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:last-child{margin-bottom:0;border-bottom:0 none}.kNZMQb{min-height:1924px}@media(max-width:767px){.kNZMQb{display:none}}.iFeFcz{width:308px}.iFeFcz.hidden{display:none}@media(max-width:999px){.iFeFcz{display:none}}.article-liveblog .fbWdwj{background-color:#f7f7f7}.eFgmkR{justify-content:center}.cvujVr{justify-content:center}
Sport Football Premier League Manchester City Sergio Aguero: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola willing to wait for striker to sign new contract Aguero is being eased back into City’s line-up after a serious knee injury
Mark Critchley Northern Football Correspondent
Friday 27 November 2020 11:22 EST
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Subscribe Already subscribed? Log in Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference. Close Read more Pep Guardiola is willing to wait for Sergio Aguero to make a decision on his Manchester City future, with the striker's contract set to expire at the end of the season.
The 32-year-old is City's all-time leading scorer and the Etihad club will lose a substantial source of goals if he departs next summer.
Aguero has nevertheless missed much of City's campaign to date, having undergone surgery on a knee injury in June and suffered a setback upon his return last month.
The Argentine is being eased back into Guardiola's first team and the City manager said on Friday that he is prepared to be patient with Aguero when it comes to both his injury rehabilitation and his contract.
"He's going to give us a good moment this season. He is still not in his best condition. We cannot forget how long he was injured and come back and injured again," Guardiola said.
Read more: Pep Guardiola tells Manchester City to move for Jack Grealish
"In the middle of the season, he's a guy who needs to be so sharp but the quality to score in the box is always [there], always was and always will be.
"We don't have doubts about that. But he needs a little bit of time to get in the training sessions and the minutes. And after we have seven months ahead to show."
On his future, Guardiola - who recently extended his own stay at City for a further two years - said: "He's a guy who deserves with the club the fair talks to do what is the best for him for the club and for everyone.
"In that you should not doubt. As I said many times, I was lucky to play as a football player and manager with incredible football players.
"He's one of these ones, for sure. But especially as a human being. I never found a bigger star like him to be to be like Sergio is."
Aguero is grieving after the death of legendary Argentina player Diego Maradona, who is the grandfather of his son Benjamin. Aguero was married to Maradona's daughter Gianinna before their separation in 2012.
"It's difficult for me to talk about his feelings," Guardiola said. "I saw him good and of course the impact on the day of the game against Olympiakos was hard. Especially for his son.
"And, of course, it was was tough, it's normal. He knew Maradona quite well and he was the grandfather of his son. It's a sad situation unfortunately for his family and yeah, he's okay. But it's a question for him it's difficult for me to answer."
Thank you for registering Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments