'Sulking' Sergio Aguero reacts badly to being dropped by Man City boss Pep Guardiola

Argentine striker Aguero was a surprise omission from the City team at the Vitality Stadium, with Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus favoured to his more experienced Argentine rival.

That decision did not go down well with Aguero, with Sky Sports reporting that he sat alone on the City team boss for several minutes after his colleagues departed to make their final preparations for the first Premier League game of the weekend.

Aguero was then absent from the warm-up, as he appeared to be making a protest over his omission from the City team.

The striker who was linked with a move to Chelsea earlier this summer started City’s first two games of the Premier League season, but Guardiola may have felt the relentless work-rate offered by Jesus was more suited to an away match against a high-energy Bournemouth side.

Jesus justified his selection as he fired City’s equaliser with a neat finish and the sight of a clearly grumpy Aguero on the City bench may spark fresh rumours of a potential big-money move in the final days of this month’s transfer window.

Aguero’s future may also be affected by City’s efforts to sign Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez, with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger admitting for the first time on Friday that he cannot guarantee whether the Chilean will still be in his squad for the first of this season after he entered the final year of his current contract.