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Sergio Aguero 'suffers broken ribs' in car crash in Amsterdam
Sergio Agüero is facing the prospect of a substantial lay-off after reportedly suffering broken ribs after the Manchester City striker was involved in a car crash in Amsterdam on Thursday night.
City confirmed in a statement on their website on Friday morning that Agüero had “sustained injuries” after the taxi in which he was travelling crashed into a pole in the Dutch capital. Agüero himself spoke to Radio Metro de Argentina from hospital and said: “The taxi driver did not see the curve and skid. And when he skidded, we hit him with the pole.
“I broke my rib, now I'm resting. It hurts me badly. I'll be discharged in a little while.”
Agüero had been attending a concert of Colombian singer-songwriter Maluma in Amsterdam and was reported to be making his way back to the airport to catch a flight to Manchester when the incident happened. The injuries may have been more severe had Agüero not been wearing his seat belt.
The 29-year-old, who is understood to have received hospital treatment, was reported to have suffered two fractured ribs which, if true, could rule the striker out for at least six weeks in another huge set-back for City manager Pep Guardiola. A source close to Agüero said the player was “okay”.
City lost left back Benjamin Mendy for up to nine months on Thursday with a ruptured cruciate ligament in his right knee and are still without captain Vincent Kompany, who is currently sidelined with another calf injury.
Agüero was believed to have been on a day off but there will still be questions to answer about why he was in Holland only 48 hours before City’s biggest match of the season away to champions Chelsea on Saturday evening.
The Argentine was due to train with his City team-mates on Friday although had the incident not occurred and the player travelled back to Manchester as planned the likelihood is he would have not been in bed until late. Guardiola is expected to field questions on that matter at his press conference ahead of Chelsea on Friday lunchtime.
Agüero spent the night in Amsterdam and was due to travel back to Manchester on Friday morning before being assessed by City’s doctors. City were refusing to speculate on the extent on Agüero’s injuries until he has been properly examined.
In a statement, City said: “Sergio Agüero will be assessed by club doctors today after being involved in a road accident on Thursday. The City forward was in Holland on his day off and has sustained injuries. He will return to Manchester this morning and his status will be checked ahead of tomorrow's Premier League clash at Chelsea.”
Agüero’s former club, Independiente, tweeted a photo of the players with the words: “Strength and prompt recovery. Everyone @ Independiente is with you in this difficult moment.” Earlier in the night, Agüero had shared a picture of himself and Maluma on Instagram, thanking the Colombian star for the invitation to the concert, which was held at the city’s AFAS Live venue.
Maluma also posted an image of Agüero signing a City shirt for him, with the caption “long live football and friendship, thanks for the detail”.
Agüero has been in outstanding form for City this season, with seven goals in eight matches, and the prospect of him being sidelined for six weeks would be a crushing blow to Guardiola, especially as Mendy and Kompany are already sidelined.
A six week lay-off would rule Agüero out of City’s next eight matches up, including the league games against Chelsea and Arsenal and Champions League matches at home and away to Napoli. It would also rule him out of Argentina’s crucial World Cup qualifiers against Peru and Ecuador next month.