Man City record-breaker Sergio Aguero says 'there's no limit' to how many goals he can score for the club... but how long will he stay at the Etihad?

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Sergio Aguero's relentless pursuit of Manchester City's goalscoring record is that it follows the first genuinely difficult spell of his career at the Etihad.

Aguero has been an unmitigated success at City since he arrived from Atletico Madrid for £38million in the summer of 2011, and his record-breaking 178th goal for the club in Naples on Wednesday night merely underlines that fact.

Yet for a good while after Pep Guardiola's arrival last year, speculation continued to surround his future at City. 


Sergio Aguero scored his 178th Manchester City goal in a Wednesday's 4-2 win over Napoli

Sergio Aguero scored his 178th Manchester City goal in a Wednesday's 4-2 win over Napoli

Guardiola had to repeatedly state last season that Aguero was staying following the signing of Gabriel Jesus and talk of a bid for Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez - a point reinforced emphatically by City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak in the summer.

But pictures of Guardiola meeting with Aguero's agent at a Manchester restaurant in January and comments from the player himself casting doubt over his future suggested that all was not well behind the scenes.

Was Aguero Guardiola's type of player? Did he meet the Spaniard's exacting standards? Certainly Aguero has been known to be less than enthusiastic towards training.

It is to the credit of both men that the issue has been largely forgotten this season as City have soared to the top of the of the Premier League on the back of an unbeaten run and reached the last 16 of the Champions League with a 100 per cent record.

Guardiola has got City playing some quite scintillating football, and Aguero has adapted his game while continuing to knock in goals for fun.

The 29-year-old finished well with his right foot as City won away in the Champions League

The 29-year-old finished well with his right foot as City won away in the Champions League

The Argentine's excellent effort in the 4-2 win over Napoli was his ninth in 11 games this season as well as the one that surpassed Eric Brook's 78-year-old record.

City will honour Aguero's achievement with a presentation at Sunday's match at home to Arsenal, although there are no plans for a more permanent tribute just yet.

So just how many goals can Aguero score for City? After all, he doesn't turn 30 until next June.

Aguero was reluctant to set any targets as he spoke at the Stadio San Paolo late on Wednesday night.

'There's no limit,' he said. 'The limit is to keep going in this way and if there are more goals, all the better.'

Striker Augero  has insisted that there is 'no limit' to how many more goals he can score for City

Striker Augero has insisted that there is 'no limit' to how many more goals he can score for City

How about 200 for a start? 'Maybe. I hope. Now I think I have to play the same way because we have a lot of games until December. I hope to score better but the important thing is to win every game.

'It depends on how many years City play this way and keep trying to score goals, but the most important thing is to win titles.'

It also depends on how long Aguero stays at City. That, too, has been the subject of some conjecture.

No sooner had he put one statistic to bed by breaking the record than Aguero was confronted with another as he was asked about the length of his contract.

'I don't know,' he said with a smile. 'I don't remember - 2019, I think. I have to check again now.'

The Argentine striker's deal at the Etihad Stadium runs out on June 30, 2020 

The Argentine striker's deal at the Etihad Stadium runs out on June 30, 2020 

In fact, it's June 30, 2020. City sources have maintained that Aguero signed a 12-month contract extension some time ago, which was confirmed by Guardiola in January.

Strangely, very little has been made of it considering the player's iconic status at the Etihad.

Why? It's been suggested that Aguero has pledged to finish his career at home with Independiente, and does not want to cause unnecessary trouble in Argentina by trumpeting the fact his return may be put back by a year.

Either way, supporters will be delighted that their beloved No 10 is set to stay longer.

Aguero acknowledged that both he and City are playing some of the best football during his six years at the club, even though he insists that talk of winning the Champions League is premature.

Aguero and his manager, Pep Guardiola, applauded City fans in Naples on Wednesday night

Aguero and his manager, Pep Guardiola, applauded City fans in Naples on Wednesday night

'Yeah I think so,' he added. 'We are playing very well, but the other years are different because we have a different manager, different players.

'This year new players came and we are very good. I think this group is better (than in other years).

'But the Champions League is not easy. I think this was a good step for the future, and I hope that we can go as far as possible – but there's still a long way to go.'

City defender Danilo revealed that Aguero gave a speech during an after-match celebration in the dressing-room.

'We are all very happy for him,' said the Brazil international. 'We had a little bit of a party for him.

'Kun spoke a little bit, gave some words to us, because obviously it was a historic moment for him and all of us.

'He is a world-class player but he knew how important the teammates are to break that record.'