Argentina striker Sergio Aguero is on the verge of becoming Manchester City’s record signing after undergoing a medical.
The 23-year-old flew in from his homeland, via London, yesterday morning and was taken to a city centre hospital to begin his medical examination.
About three hours later he left to go to the club’s Etihad Stadium but, with negotiations seemingly very relaxed and moving along smoothly, Aguero opted to take a break and go out for lunch before continuing negotiations later in the day.
It is not anticipated Aguero’s personal terms – reported to be a five-year contract worth about £200,000 a week – will be a stumbling block for City who are backed by the wealth of Sheikh Mansour, a member of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family.
City’s previous record transfer was Robinho, who arrived from Real Madrid for £32.5 million as the new owners made him their marquee signing to signal their intent just days after taking over in August 2008.
The Aguero deal is believed to be closer to £38 million, the value of the buy-out clause inserted in the new contract he signed with Atletico Madrid in January.
“Just arrived in Manchester to finalise the details of signing with City,” Aguero wrote on his Twitter account.
“Everything is going very well! I’ll tell you more in a while.”
With City striker Carlos Tevez adamant he wants to leave to be nearer his wife and two daughters in Argentina, Aguero is seen as the ideal replacement.
Younger than his compatriot by four years, the Atletico star has been a prolific goalscorer in La Liga and that is why he became one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe.
Atletico had resigned themselves to the fact they would lose their prized asset when he announced in May, before he departed to play for Argentina in the Copa America, that he wanted to leave.
Aguero’s preference was to remain in Spain, with city rivals Real Madrid seemingly the most likely destination at first, but Atletico Madrid were keen to resist such a move.
So, an offer from Manchester City, although Juventus were also interested, represented a better option for the Madrid side.