Argentine striker Sergio Aguero. COURTESY
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero will join Barcelona on a two-year contract when his contract expires at the end of June.
The Argentine, 32, leaves City after 10 years at the club, during which he became their all-time leading goalscorer with 260 goals in 390 games. His last appearance came off the bench in Saturday's Champions League final defeat by Chelsea. “We all know that Barcelona are the best club in the world,” said Aguero. “I think I made a great decision to be here and of course it is a step forward in my career. “I am really happy and hopefully I can help the team to win things.” Aguero will have a buyout clause of 100m euros (£86m) at Barcelona. Aguero, who won 15 major trophies during his time in Manchester, will join compatriot and close friend Lionel Messi at the Nou Camp as the Catalan club look to improve on a third-place finish in La Liga. They finished behind Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid, having sold Luis Suarez to the former for just 6m euros (£5.2m) at the start of the season. Barca were knocked out of the Champions League in the last 16 by Paris St-Germain, but did beat Athletic Bilbao 4-0 to win the Copa del Rey in April.
Messi was their top goalscorer with 38 goals in all competitions, with French duo Antoine Griezmann (20) and Ousmane Dembele (11) the only others to reach double figures. However he is still not sure that Messi will be his teammate next season as the club captain is yet to sign an extension to his current contract which expires next month. ‘Let's hope we play together ... what happens with Leo is down to decisions that he will make with the club,’ Aguero told reporters at the Camp Nou after he was unveiled on the famous pitch. ‘Obviously it will be a pleasure if we play together. If he continues here, which I think he will, we will try to do our best for the club as he always has done.’ Barca will hope Aguero's arrival in Catalonia helps to convince his friend and fellow Argentine Messi to stay, as the club faces up to declining performances on the pitch and a worrying financial situation. Ronald Koeman's side finished third in La Liga this past season and have debts of 1.2 billion euros ($1.46 billion).
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