Sergio Aguero: I want to leave Atletico Madrid
Argentine forward has disclosed that he wants to part company from last year’s Europa League winners and move to a different club.
By Subhankar Mondal
May 23, 2011 9:35:00 PM
Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero has revealed that he wants to leave the club this summer.
In a statement posted on his official Twitter page, the 22-year-old explicitly stated his desire not to continue playing for last year’s Europa League winners.
"I have expressed to Atleti my desire to leave,” said Aguero. “I've asked to receive, unconditionally, the offers that come from other clubs."
This comes just hours after the Spanish media reported that Aguero spent an hour and a half in discussion with his father and his agents at the Vicente Calderon this evening. Atletico’s chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin and their president Enrique Cerezo were allegedly not present at the meeting.
The Argentina international further posted a full statement on his official website in which he explained why he wants to play for a different team from next season.
“I am about to turn 23 and I have everything before me,” said Aguero. “It is sufficient to say that it is not an economic reason to leave, but strictly a sporting one.
"So I want to clearly express my appreciation to the club for the effort they made in keeping me on a salary that befits some of the largest institutions in the world.
“I also want to say that this decision has been in progress for some time,” Aguero continued. “The issue was even discussed and agreed with Atleti last year when I renewed my contract. I wanted to sign and renew my contract as a way to give back to the club what they have given me.”
He added: “I then had the promise of the club that they would not impede my departure in June 2011.”
The former Independiente forward also thanked the Atletico supporters and expressed his “eternal gratitude”, adding that they “are already part of my identity and a way of understanding football.”
Aguero’s release clause is reportedly 45 million euros plus the IVA value-added tax: if this figure is met, then Atletico is contractually bound to allow him to negotiate with the bidding club. His current contract runs until 2014.
Several clubs have recently been linked with Aguero. Barcelona was said to be interested, Real Madrid was also following developments despite Aguero's promise never to join Atleti's city rivals, and Manchester City has also allegedly put itself in the frame. No club has yet admitted a concrete bid for the young forward.