Pep Guardiola insists he wants to keep Aguero at Man City but ‘what happens at the end of the season, I don’t know’

MANCHESTER // Pep Guardiola said he is unsure if Sergio Aguero will still be at Manchester City next season.

The Catalan reiterated that he is keen to keep his top scorer and said he has conveyed the same message to the striker in private.

City’s stance remains that Aguero, who has not started their past two games after losing his place to January signing Gabriel Jesus, is not for sale.

But the forward cast doubt on his future last week by saying he will see in the summer what the club want to do with him.

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■ Premier League round-up: Setback for Spurs as Sadio Mane double lifts Liverpool

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“What happens at the end of the season, I don’t know,” Guardiola said. “I know how difficult it is to find a good top scorer, but I don’t know what is going to happen.

“But I think it was clear every time we spoke with Sergio, from the beginning. Sergio knows the intention of his manager and the club. I don’t want to sell him. I would like him to stay here for a long time.

“He has been banned for seven games and we missed him a lot. Every time he is fit, he played. He played a good performance. I know what he has done in this club.”

Guardiola has promised Aguero that he is first in line to earn a recall if any of his youthful front three of Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling or Gabriel Jesus drop out but waxed lyrical about the three youngsters’ efforts.

“My advice to the guys is keep going, fight and show me how good you are,” he said. “But if Leroy doesn’t play, he will be in for [him]. If Gabriel doesn’t play, he will be in for [him]. If Raheem doesn’t play, he will be in for [him].

“The reason he’s not played the past two games are because Leroy, Gabriel and Raheem have played amazing. The three guys in front with high intensity, I like what they do. They are so dynamic, all three, in their intention.

“Without the ball, they are so aggressive in terms of pressure. All of them are so good making runs in behind and good in transition between the lines. They are all around 20 years of age – 19, 20, 21 – so they are so, so young.”

City visit Bournemouth on Monday, looking to record a fourth straight win since Gabriel Jesus came into the starting XI.

The 19-year-old Brazilian has scored three goals in his past two games, including an injury-time winner against Swansea City last week, but Guardiola identified City’s older Brazilians for praise for helping him settle.

“Fernandinho and Fernando make a real good job because they are always with him and happy to translate something,” he said.

“You have seen what he has done until now. Of course it is good news. We are happy.”

One of Guardiola's most distinguished former players, Philipp Lahm, announced his retirement last week, and the City manager hopes his current charges emulate Germany's World Cup-winning captain in his intelligence and eloquence.

“I said to them, speak more to me, please, but they’re shy, quiet guys,” Guardiola said. “Philipp and Xabi Alonso at Bayern Munich were two guys who speak a lot about football, tactics, what is their vision on the field, what they believe, what they feel.

“When I had doubts, I could speak with them: What do you believe? Will you make it that way? The opponents make that kind of thing?

“We do that. It was a pleasure to speak with both of them about that. I think that sooner or later, because they have to know what they want, that is going to happen here as well.”

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Hydrogen: Market potential

Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.

"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.

Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.

The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.

Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn

In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:

500 People from Gaza enter France

115 Special programme for artists

25 Evacuation of injured and sick

India Test squad

Kohli (c), Dhawan, Rahul, Vijay, Pujara, Rahane (vc), Karun, Karthik (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ashwin, Jadeja, Kuldeep, Pandya, Ishant, Shami, Umesh, Bumrah, Thakur

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What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

McLaren GT specs

Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8

Transmission: seven-speed

Power: 620bhp

Torque: 630Nm

Price: Dh875,000

On sale: now

How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?

Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction

Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.

Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.

Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.

Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.

Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.

What are the guidelines?

Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.

Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.

Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.

Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.

Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.

Source: American Paediatric Association

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme

Priority access to new homes from participating developers
Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
Flexible payment plans from developers
Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates

The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupe

Price, base: Dh201,153
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 204hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 300Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km

Watch this space

Has a colleague of Stephen Hawking's just found evidence of a universe before this one?

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Second ODI

England 322-7 (50 ovs)
India 236 (50 ovs)

England win by 86 runs

Next match: Tuesday, July 17, Headingley

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SPECS

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If you go

The flights

There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.

The trip

Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.

The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.