Manchester City to offer Aguero new deal to ward off Real Madrid interest

The Argentine has three years left on his current deal, while the Premier League champions are unconcerned over reports linking the striker with a switch to Spain

EXCLUSIVE
By Paul Clennam

Sergio Aguero will be offered a new five-year deal by Manchester City this summer.

The Argentine striker has three years remaining on his existing deal but City’s owners want to put him further out of bounds.

Goal.com understands City are unconcerned by reports linking the player to Real Madrid this summer, having recently split from his long-term partner and being apart from his young son.

Aguero’s father-in-law, Diego Maradona, has previously stated that a move to Real Madrid would be the 24-year-old’s “big break”.

City now value the player at over €59 million and plan to recognise that by sitting down with Aguero and rubber-stamping a two-year extension to protect their investment.

Aguero earns around €200,000 a week at the Etihad Stadium and will earn a similar amount, but with a more lucrative bonus structure set aside based on goals and further trophies.

City are currently on a drive to sign-up their biggest names. Yaya Toure last week pledged himself for another four years, while David Silva and Vincent Kompany both extended their contracts in 2012.

La Liga Team of the Week: Cesc, Alexis & Higuain all included

The Barca pair played perhaps their finest games for the Catalans on Saturday, while the Argentine striker was back to his brilliant best for Real Madrid in another easy win

Barcelona were without Lionel Messi on Saturday but still managed to stroll to a 5-0 win at home to Mallorca at Camp Nou, while Real Madrid made light work of Levante in a 5-1 victory with Cristiano Ronaldo only involved in the second half.

Below them, Atletico Madrid slipped further behind as they could only draw at city rivals Getafe, while Real Sociedad moved a step closer to cementing fourth place with a fine 4-2 win over Malaga.

Here, Goal.com looks at the pick of the players from the 30th round of Liga matches.

In goal, Dani Hernandez was unable to avoid defeat for Valladolid against Valencia, but saved a penalty and made a number of other fine stops in the 2-1 loss.

Dani Alves was back to his best for Barcelona as the Catalans trounced Mallorca, while Getafe’s Fede Fernandez frustrated Radamel Falcao, and Hector Mroreno helped Espanyol to yet another win, this time at Osasuna.

Cesc Fabregas played perhaps his finest game since joining Barcelona as he hit a hat-trick (the first of his career and also assisted another for Alexis Sanchez. Mesut Ozil needed just 15 minutes to strike twice for Real Madrid in his high-class cameo against Levante. Espanyol’s Wakaso impressed in the second half versus Osasuna and sealed victory with a late second goal for the Catalans, while Real Sociedad’s Antoine Griezmann shone for the Basques in their success over Malaga.

Alexis, with two goals and two assist, played probably his best game for Barcelona on Saturday, while Ruben Castro inspired Betis to a 5-1 win at Granada and Gonzalo Higuain was excellent against Levante, striking a brilliant volley to open the scoring and later assisting another for Cristiano Ronaldo.

Lo Monaco reignites Mourinho spat

The flamboyant Italian has issued an alarming condemnation of the Madrid boss’ looks and his coaching skills

Messina owner Pietro Lo Monaco has renewed his war of words with Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, claiming the Portuguese trainer’s “face looks like his backside”.

Mourinho angered Lo Monaco shortly after taking charge of Inter in the summer of 2008 when he claimed that he had never heard of the then Catania sporting director, and the two have enjoyed a tense relationship ever since.

“Mourinho’s face looks like his backside,” Lo Monaco told Sky Sport when questioned about his relationship with the Madrid coach.

“He knew very well who I was at the time. We had met when I was with Brescia and he was part of Barcelona’s staff. He wanted to meet our coach back then.

“He was playing a character, a comedian. He’s not worth much as a coach, but he’s one of the best motivators in the world.”

Mourinho left Inter for Real Madrid in the summer of 2010, and has since won the Copa del Rey and La Liga with the Santiago Bernabeu side.

Mourinho's face looks like his backside – Lo Monaco

The flamboyant Italian has issued an alarming condemnation of the Madrid boss’ looks and his coaching skills

Messina owner Pietro Lo Monaco has renewed his war of words with Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, claiming the Portuguese trainer’s “face looks like his backside”.

Mourinho angered Lo Monaco shortly after taking charge of Inter in the summer of 2008 when he claimed that he had never heard of the then Catania sporting director, and the two have enjoyed a tense relationship ever since.

“Mourinho’s face looks like his backside,” Lo Monaco told Sky Sport when questioned about his relationship with the Madrid coach.

“He knew very well who I was at the time. We had met when I was with Brescia and he was part of Barcelona’s staff. He wanted to meet our coach back then.

“He was playing a character, a comedian. He’s not worth much as a coach, but he’s one of the best motivators in the world.”

Mourinho left Inter for Real Madrid in the summer of 2010, and has since won the Copa del Rey and La Liga with the Santiago Bernabeu side.

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Place a bet on the correct score market in the midweek Champions League games and if your bet loses, get a £10 free bet to your account for Thursday’s Europa League action

The Champions League quarter-finals are reaching their conclusion and although Real Madrid look to have all but secured their place in the next round there is still plenty to play for in the other three matches.

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Galatasaray welcome Jose Mourinho’s side to Turkey on Tuesday night as they look to overturn a 3-0 first leg defeat. Madrid were dominant at the Bernabeu and although the visitors did have several chances to make their mark, their front men were unable to take advantage.

Those who are familiar with the correct score market will know that it offers significant returns from a smaller stake, for example, another 3-0 win for Mourinho’s side on Tuesday would return 14/1 (15.0), while a 2-1 win for the Spanish side – a bet which has paid out in three of Madrid’s last five away games – pays 12/1 (13.0).

That was the value selection of our Spanish expert Phil Kitromilides in his preview; you can read more from him here.

Those who think the Turkish side can restore some pride with a 2-1 win can back that outcome at 18/1 (19.0) with BetVictor, safe in the knowledge that if their bet loses, they will have a free bet to the same value up to £10 for Thursday’s Europa League matches.

Tuesday’s other match is more finely poised with a 0-0 draw in the first leg between Malaga and Borussia Dortmund leaving both sides hopeful of progression to the semi-finals.

Another 0-0 draw is a 14/1 (15.0) shot, while Borussia Dortmund start as pre-match favourites and can be backed to win by a whole range of scores, including 1-0 (8/1), 2-0 (7/1) or 4-0 (20/1) with BetVictor.

Manuel Pellegrini led Villareal to the semi-finals of this tournament in 2006, although his side are the outsiders to progress even though an away goal could prove vital. A 1-1 draw would see the Spanish side through and is available at 11/1 (12.0), while a 2-1 win after 90 minutes is a 28/1 (29.0) shot.

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