Sergio Aguero Joins Manchester City Despite Carlos Tevez Deal Falling Through

Manchester City have confirmed the signing of Argentinean striker Sergio Aguero, for an undisclosed amount thought to be either £35m or £38m. Aguero, whose nickname is Kun, and is the son in law of Diego Maradona, joins City after 5 seasons at Atletico Madrid, where he made 234 appearances and scored 102 goals. He signs a 5 year deal at City, thought to be around £200,000 a week, and is likely to be in City’s squad for this weekend’s Dublin Super Cup.

Aguero was thought to be a replacement for Carlos Tevez, and completed the deal even after Corinthians’ move for Tevez had fell through. Aguero joins the aforementioned Tevez, Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli, giving City one of the best, if not the best strike force in the Premier League. With 4 strikers who will all see themselves as worthy of a first XI place, Roberto Mancini may have to change his trusted 4-2-3-1 or play one of his strikers out of place on the left, in order to keep everyone satisfied. If he can keep the likes of Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez happy, expect City to be challenging for the Premier League title, and quite possibly be a force in Europe.

This looks like a fantastic deal for City, securing an elite player for a fair price. It’s been well known that Aguero had been agitating for a move away from Atletico for some time, and after a strong Copa America, the pressure on the La Liga club was simply too great to resist a bid. City will be getting someone who can play more than competently as a centre forward, number ten, and on either side. It’s a very good piece of business for a club looking to make a major push for the Premier League title.

If that sounds totally above board to anyone of you, I have a slightly used, grumpy Argentina international to sell. Caution! Gets even surlier in the rain; hates playing football.

Because we were really really keen on finding a way to make this transfer seem even more shady than it already did. City have not agreed with Corinthians on Tevez’s price, but they have set it. Maybe that’s what Mancini meant? This whole thing just keeps getting stranger and stranger

He doesn’t mention Manchester City by name, but they’re one of the few big clubs with the need and means to sign an expensive, elite striker. Nothing is guaranteed, of course, but this is one rumour which looks like it will pan out, and fast. It’ll be strange seeing City play without Tevez, but it certainly seems like a good bit of business if they can get Aguero on lower wages than what they were paying Tevez.

Well, now the bid has been improved, and to make a weird situation even crazier, City have only gone and accepted Corinthians’ new offer:

The fee is reported to be in the region of £39M, and although the money involved still doesn’t pass the smell test it’s not as though the Manchester Evening news is particularly prone to flat out making things up. This sounds like it’s actually happening. Bizarre.

So, this brings up a few questions. First of all, what kind of club rejects a £35 million bid for a player who doesn’t want to play for them anymore? Answer: One who has enough money to buy the entire city of Manchester if they feel like it. Okay, that was an easy one. How about a harder question: Where in the blue hell did Corinthians get £35 million?

According to “ESPN Soccernet’s source in Brazil,” they’re making that money through legitimate business enterprises. Just look at the reported numbers on their television and shirt sponsorship deals.

City maintain that £50 million is the minimum price for Tevez, but a bid from Corinthians may cause them to re-consider that stance. It makes sense that City would want to demand that kind of coin from a European rival, but if he goes to Corinthians, he will have no chance of hurting City competitively for a couple of seasons. Additionally, though the fee City paid for Tevez is not known, they would probably be in the general vicinity of breaking even if they sold him for £35 million.

There’s something mildly fishy about this bid, though. Yes, Brazilian football is getting better every year, but Corinthians are still not a club that has £35 million lying around in a bank somewhere. If they make this deal, they’re likely getting a loan based on expected future income or getting some sponsors to pony up a good chunk of the cash. Or Kia Joorabchian is buying a portion of Tevez’s rights again.