Could Erling Haaland replicate Sergio Aguero’s 10-year Manchester City stay? New comments from Pep Guardiola revealed

Pep Guardiola has this week discussed whether Erling Haaland could replicate the legendary 10-year stay by Sergio Aguero at Manchester City.

The Argentine Premier League legend, alongside fellow iconic figure David Silva, marked a truly historic and transformation period at the Etihad Stadium following their arrivals in 2011 and 2010 respectively.

Winning numerous pieces of major silverware over a decade-long spell under three managers, their commitment to the project at Manchester City did not come and go without the want of trying from competitors across Europe looking to steal their signatures.

Real Madrid and Barcelona became long-term admirers of both players during their prime at Manchester City, but Etihad officials ultimately stood their ground and both players committed their futures to the club winning silverware galore.

Speaking during part two of his pre-Brentford press conference on Friday afternoon, Pep Guardiola was quizzed on whether he can see a situation where despite intense transfer speculation, Erling Haaland could replicate the length of service provided by the likes of Sergio Aguero and David Silva to the Etihad Stadium club.

“First it’s an honour; it’s an honour for us that important clubs want our players,” Guardiola admitted. “But at the end, the players decide, and of course, our best players – what I know from my chairman, sporting director, CEO, and other people – we want to keep the best players. That is normal.”

The City boss continued, “We want to stay being there (at the top). And to be there, we need good players, not because I’m sitting here as a manager and having success in the past means we are going to win games without good players. I need good players!

“That is the secret in our success. There are many, many reasons, but the main reason is having exceptional players, this is the main reason. And the main reason we want to have him (Erling Haaland). But, in world football, we never know!”

Reiterating what Real Madrid or other potential suitors have to do, Pep Guardiola continued by explaining the ‘simple’ steps any club would have to do in order to attempt to sign any of Manchester City’s superstars, including Erling Haaland.

“It’s simple; if someone wants our players, call our sporting director and say we want this player and we want to make this offer, convince the player, and after do the rest. It’s easy. But I’m not here to comment on every single player if they have a potential (to leave). But we didn’t get (any offers), from my info, maybe the club gets an info and I don’t know it.”

Erling Haaland is fresh off the back of his return to action for Manchester City on Wednesday night, as he appeared from the substitutes bench to complete the final 25 minutes in a 3-1 win over Vincent Kompany’s Burnley at the Etihad Stadium.

Haaland had been ruled out of action for around two months with a bone stress problem in his foot that Pep Guardiola would go on to reveal would actually be a minor fracture requiring longer to heal than first anticipated.