Sergio Agüero: “I’ve renewed because I’m at one of the best clubs in the world”
“Anyone who doesn’t think we can beat Barcelona shouldn’t travel”
Sergio Kun Agüero was very happy because his contract extension which binds him to Club Atlético de Madrid for two more seasons had been made official. The Argentinean made his commitment to the Club very clear at all times. To begin, he explained the reasons for which he signed a contract extension until 2014. “I’d like to thank all of those present here today as well as the Club, because the video is very well done. As I’ve always said, when I arrived here at the age of 17, the Club treated me very well and I’m very happy and very content at Atlético de Madrid. That’s the very reason I decided to renew. As I said back then, it’s not just a signature, it’s also a commitment. Amongst all of us we’re going to move this forward. I’m pleased to continue at the Club and I hope to stay here for many years.”
He was asked why Atlético de Madrid is such a special Club. Agüero repeated that “the Club has always treated me very well, a 10 out of 10. I think that it’s a good Club and I’d say that I’m at one of the best clubs in the world. That’s why I renewed. Atlético have supporters like few other teams here in Europe. And that’s also why I decided to renew. And I want to make it clear that if I’d wanted to leave this Club, I’d have waited because I would have been a free agent in 11 months and I would have been able to sign with any Club I wanted. And I decided to renew because this Club is one of the biggest. I’m very pleased and very happy. We’re in a tough spot right now but I believe that with confidence and strength we’re going to come out of it.”
With respect to whether the reduction of his buy-out clause can be viewed as a precursor to his departure from the organization, Kun was categorical. “It’s a negotiation that my agents and the Club have carried out. I’ll repeat that if I’d wanted to leave, I wouldn’t have signed an extension because I’d have become free in December and the Club wouldn’t earn a penny. You have to value that and that’s why I want to stay.”
The Argentina international left it very clear that “the day of my renewal isn’t the right time to speak about my future, but rather the time to touch on the present. I have great respect for the clubs that are interested in me and I’m always appreciative because they’re good teams such as Chelsea, Barcelona, Manchester, that are paying attention to me. But I’m very happy here. And if the Club believes that I need a change of scenery then Enrique, Miguel Ángel and I will sit down and see what’s best for the Club. But I insist that right now I’m happy and content and I’m only thinking about this Club, about the fixtures we have left and about trying to reach our goal, which is to qualify for Champions League. Even though it’s going to be difficult, we have to try to accomplish it. But just so it remains clear: the day that I want to leave, I’ll say so. I’ll repeat that above everything that people are talking about, we’re dealing with my decision. I’m happy at the Club and I’m focused on the matches that lie ahead. We have to play well and try to earn points, which we need.”
Concerning him belonging to Club Atlético de Madrid, Agüero said he identifies with the organization, the fans and the jersey that he defends during games. He stated that “it’s easy to support a big club that always fights for titles. This Club has improved since my arrival, has made it to Champions League, we’ve been Europa League and European Super Cup champions and I’m very happy. It’s a marvellous Club to which I’ll always be thankful. Now I have to try and show that on the pitch.”
The Atlético ‘10’ believes that nobody can count them out this season. “We’re far from our Champions objective on points but there are 17 weeks left and a world of points to be had. We have to play against direct rivals such as Valencia and Villarreal, amongst others. We have to try not to lose any more points. We know that we have a very difficult match on Saturday because only Hércules have been able to beat Barcelona this season, but it’s time to grab a hold of our confidence because we’ve always played very good games against Barcelona. If we win, we’ll regain the confidence we need. Then we’ll play all of our direct rivals at home and will have to earn by the threes.”
He touched on the loss to Athletic and it was clear he was upset. “It was a tough match that became difficult for us with the sending off. Additionally, Athletic is a very strong defensive side. We have to keep working and giving our all on the pitch as we try to earn points.”
He was asked if there could be certain parallelism between his career at Atlético de Madrid and that of Fernando Torres, and Kun was crystal clear. “We’re different players. I can only speak about myself and I’m very happy here. I don’t expect any comparison with Fernando Torres. It seems like Fernando wants to leave Liverpool and the fact is that each person decides what they have to do. I decide what I do and what I’ve decided is to stay at the Club and continue growing with the Club. That’s it.”
This coming Saturday’s fixture against Barcelona was another one of the topics discussed. There’s no doubt that a ‘rojiblanco’ victory would mean ‘helping out’ Real Madrid in their battle for the league title. “Obviously we’d be doing them a favour if we beat Barça, but first we’d be doing it for ourselves by earning one or three points. We have to try and give a good image in Barcelona. We always play well against Barça and hopefully we can get a good result. We need it.”
And to finish, Agüero sent a message about the way Atlético is going to approach Saturday’s match. Concerning what percentage of a chance he’d give his team of winning at Camp Nou, he said “all of it. All of my teammates feel the same as I do, and anyone who doesn’t think we can beat Barcelona should stay home. We’re here to defend the Club and we can’t travel to Barcelona thinking that we’re going to lose. I think that’s a mediocre mentality. Each player has to believe that they can give more and that we’re going to try and earn points at the Nou Camp. We can beat them because they’re not invincible.”
He was asked why Atlético de Madrid is such a special Club. Agüero repeated that “the Club has always treated me very well, a 10 out of 10. I think that it’s a good Club and I’d say that I’m at one of the best clubs in the world. That’s why I renewed. Atlético have supporters like few other teams here in Europe. And that’s also why I decided to renew. And I want to make it clear that if I’d wanted to leave this Club, I’d have waited because I would have been a free agent in 11 months and I would have been able to sign with any Club I wanted. And I decided to renew because this Club is one of the biggest. I’m very pleased and very happy. We’re in a tough spot right now but I believe that with confidence and strength we’re going to come out of it.”
With respect to whether the reduction of his buy-out clause can be viewed as a precursor to his departure from the organization, Kun was categorical. “It’s a negotiation that my agents and the Club have carried out. I’ll repeat that if I’d wanted to leave, I wouldn’t have signed an extension because I’d have become free in December and the Club wouldn’t earn a penny. You have to value that and that’s why I want to stay.”
The Argentina international left it very clear that “the day of my renewal isn’t the right time to speak about my future, but rather the time to touch on the present. I have great respect for the clubs that are interested in me and I’m always appreciative because they’re good teams such as Chelsea, Barcelona, Manchester, that are paying attention to me. But I’m very happy here. And if the Club believes that I need a change of scenery then Enrique, Miguel Ángel and I will sit down and see what’s best for the Club. But I insist that right now I’m happy and content and I’m only thinking about this Club, about the fixtures we have left and about trying to reach our goal, which is to qualify for Champions League. Even though it’s going to be difficult, we have to try to accomplish it. But just so it remains clear: the day that I want to leave, I’ll say so. I’ll repeat that above everything that people are talking about, we’re dealing with my decision. I’m happy at the Club and I’m focused on the matches that lie ahead. We have to play well and try to earn points, which we need.”
Concerning him belonging to Club Atlético de Madrid, Agüero said he identifies with the organization, the fans and the jersey that he defends during games. He stated that “it’s easy to support a big club that always fights for titles. This Club has improved since my arrival, has made it to Champions League, we’ve been Europa League and European Super Cup champions and I’m very happy. It’s a marvellous Club to which I’ll always be thankful. Now I have to try and show that on the pitch.”
The Atlético ‘10’ believes that nobody can count them out this season. “We’re far from our Champions objective on points but there are 17 weeks left and a world of points to be had. We have to play against direct rivals such as Valencia and Villarreal, amongst others. We have to try not to lose any more points. We know that we have a very difficult match on Saturday because only Hércules have been able to beat Barcelona this season, but it’s time to grab a hold of our confidence because we’ve always played very good games against Barcelona. If we win, we’ll regain the confidence we need. Then we’ll play all of our direct rivals at home and will have to earn by the threes.”
He touched on the loss to Athletic and it was clear he was upset. “It was a tough match that became difficult for us with the sending off. Additionally, Athletic is a very strong defensive side. We have to keep working and giving our all on the pitch as we try to earn points.”
He was asked if there could be certain parallelism between his career at Atlético de Madrid and that of Fernando Torres, and Kun was crystal clear. “We’re different players. I can only speak about myself and I’m very happy here. I don’t expect any comparison with Fernando Torres. It seems like Fernando wants to leave Liverpool and the fact is that each person decides what they have to do. I decide what I do and what I’ve decided is to stay at the Club and continue growing with the Club. That’s it.”
This coming Saturday’s fixture against Barcelona was another one of the topics discussed. There’s no doubt that a ‘rojiblanco’ victory would mean ‘helping out’ Real Madrid in their battle for the league title. “Obviously we’d be doing them a favour if we beat Barça, but first we’d be doing it for ourselves by earning one or three points. We have to try and give a good image in Barcelona. We always play well against Barça and hopefully we can get a good result. We need it.”
And to finish, Agüero sent a message about the way Atlético is going to approach Saturday’s match. Concerning what percentage of a chance he’d give his team of winning at Camp Nou, he said “all of it. All of my teammates feel the same as I do, and anyone who doesn’t think we can beat Barcelona should stay home. We’re here to defend the Club and we can’t travel to Barcelona thinking that we’re going to lose. I think that’s a mediocre mentality. Each player has to believe that they can give more and that we’re going to try and earn points at the Nou Camp. We can beat them because they’re not invincible.”