MANCHESTER // Pep Guardiola said he is unsure if Sergio Aguero will still be at Manchester City next season.
The Catalan reiterated that he is keen to keep his top scorer and said he has conveyed the same message to the striker in private.
City’s stance remains that Aguero, who has not started their past two games after losing his place to January signing Gabriel Jesus, is not for sale.
But the forward cast doubt on his future last week by saying he will see in the summer what the club want to do with him.
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“What happens at the end of the season, I don’t know,” Guardiola said. “I know how difficult it is to find a good top scorer, but I don’t know what is going to happen.
“But I think it was clear every time we spoke with Sergio, from the beginning. Sergio knows the intention of his manager and the club. I don’t want to sell him. I would like him to stay here for a long time.
“He has been banned for seven games and we missed him a lot. Every time he is fit, he played. He played a good performance. I know what he has done in this club.”
Guardiola has promised Aguero that he is first in line to earn a recall if any of his youthful front three of Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling or Gabriel Jesus drop out but waxed lyrical about the three youngsters’ efforts.
“My advice to the guys is keep going, fight and show me how good you are,” he said. “But if Leroy doesn’t play, he will be in for [him]. If Gabriel doesn’t play, he will be in for [him]. If Raheem doesn’t play, he will be in for [him].
“The reason he’s not played the past two games are because Leroy, Gabriel and Raheem have played amazing. The three guys in front with high intensity, I like what they do. They are so dynamic, all three, in their intention.
“Without the ball, they are so aggressive in terms of pressure. All of them are so good making runs in behind and good in transition between the lines. They are all around 20 years of age – 19, 20, 21 – so they are so, so young.”
City visit Bournemouth on Monday, looking to record a fourth straight win since Gabriel Jesus came into the starting XI.
The 19-year-old Brazilian has scored three goals in his past two games, including an injury-time winner against Swansea City last week, but Guardiola identified City’s older Brazilians for praise for helping him settle.
“Fernandinho and Fernando make a real good job because they are always with him and happy to translate something,” he said.
“You have seen what he has done until now. Of course it is good news. We are happy.”
One of Guardiola's most distinguished former players, Philipp Lahm, announced his retirement last week, and the City manager hopes his current charges emulate Germany's World Cup-winning captain in his intelligence and eloquence.
“I said to them, speak more to me, please, but they’re shy, quiet guys,” Guardiola said. “Philipp and Xabi Alonso at Bayern Munich were two guys who speak a lot about football, tactics, what is their vision on the field, what they believe, what they feel.
“When I had doubts, I could speak with them: What do you believe? Will you make it that way? The opponents make that kind of thing?
“We do that. It was a pleasure to speak with both of them about that. I think that sooner or later, because they have to know what they want, that is going to happen here as well.”
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