'Happy' Aguero: No truth in real rumours

Andy Hampson

MANCHESTER CITY'S top scorer Sergio Aguero has reiterated his commitment to the club following fresh speculation over his future.

The Argentinian spoke only recently about his love for life at the Etihad Stadium but rumours linking him with Spanish giants Real Madrid still resurfaced.

The 23-year-old, who has scored 26 goals since his club record £38million move from Atletico Madrid last summer, insists he will not be leaving and reports to the contrary are merely attempts to unsettle him.

When asked if there was any truth in the rumours, Aguero said: "No no, all of that, no.

"I hardly ever do interviews. Sometimes I have to get in touch to deny or correct the claims but I can't dispel every claim that is written about me.

"The truth is that I am happy here, happy with my fellow players and the rest of the staff.

"The only thing I have to do is enjoy playing football.

"I repeat that I am very happy here and they invent things to try to compromise me."

Aguero struck twice as City returned to form and cut Manchester United's lead at the top of the Premier League to five points with a 4-0 defeat of West Brom on Wednesday. Manager Roberto Mancini felt his performance underlined just how damaging his recent two-game absence was.

Aguero was missing as the team were held to costly draws by Stoke and Sunderland because of a foot injury that was exacerbated by a treatment spray.

Mancini said: "I have always said he is our best striker and I was really upset to lose him for two games. That was like United losing (Wayne) Rooney."

Aguero also set up another on Wednesday for countryman Carlos Tevez, who scored for the first time in 11 months while making his first start since September. The pair had started together for City only once before and have rarely been paired for their national team, but Aguero feels the partnership has promise.

He said: "He knows how I move and play and I know his game so we hope to be able to keep getting to know each other better."

The Argentinian has not given up on the title: "We knew we had to win as at any moment United could drop points, as happened.

"They dropped three points, which gives us more confidence to fight for the Premier League."

City still have it in their own hands to take the battle to the last game of the season as they face United on April 30.

And just one more slip-up from United in any of their other four games would put City back in control of their own destiny.

The odds may still be against them, but City's performance on Wednesday showed why, for much of the season, they were regarded as firm favourites.