"?Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has rubbished talk of a rumoured exit for star player Sergio Aguero following reports over the weekend that the striker's future at the club was becoming increasingly uncertain.
There were sensationalised claims that Guardiola was 'driving out' the 28-year-old having controversially dropped him for the Champions League clash with Barcelona.
Further media stories then put Borussia Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the transfer radar to arrive as a replacement at the Etihad Stadium.
But speaking to the media ahead of this week's EFL Cup tie against Manchester United, Guardiola moved to quash the growing speculation.
"I am so happy with Sergio and hopefully he can stay for the long time here. I want him to stay and play with us. He's a special player," the former Barcelona coach said.
Pep: I am so happy with Sergio and hopefully he can stay for the long time here. I want him to stay and play with us. He's a special player.
Despite previously expressing a desire to return home to Argentina and play for boyhood club Independiente at the end of his next City contract, Aguero is believed to have agreed a new City deal as far back as January of this year that will add another 12 months to his stay in Manchester.
No such extension has been publicly announced, but the proposed deal will likely have come with Guardiola's input after he was in talks with the club behind the scenes long before his arrival was formally announced in early February.
Aguero retains a special place in Manchester City history after his dramatic goal sealed a first league title in 42 years with virtually the final kick of the 2011/12 season. He was also the second quickest player in Premier League history to reach 100 goals, only behind Alan Shearer.
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