Manchester City Transfer News: Is Sergio Agüero Better Than Carlos Tévez?

When Sergio Agüero signalled his intent to leave Atlético Madrid, who would have thought he’d end up at Manchester City?

Not me, truth be told, Agüero had no intentions of moving to Manchester City, given he attempted to force a move to hated rivals Real Madrid (was never going to happen), and he had talks with Juventus.

Agüero’s transfer to Manchester City is a signal of intent to Carlos Tévez, that you should catch the next flight out of Manchester.

But the question beckons; is Agüero better than Tévez?

Goal Scoring: Sergio Agüero > Carlos Tévez

Career goal scoring

Sergio Agüero: 138 goals in 320 games at 0.43 goals per game

Carlos Tévez: 163 goals in 390 games at 0.42 goals per game

You can’t argue with statistics, but you can point out that Tévez played 26 games off the bench at Manchester United which decreased his goal scoring ratio.

Best goal scoring season

Agüero: 27 goals in 41 games @ 0.66 goals per game during the 2010-11 season

Tévez: 29 goals in 42 games @ 0.69 goals per game during the 2009-10 season

Assists Record: Carlos Tévez > Sergio Agüero

Sergio Agüero: 37 assists in 234 games @ 0.16 assists per game

Carlos Tévez: 35 assists in 209 games @ 0.17 assists per game

For the record, Agüero has more vision, is more creative and is a better passer than Tévez.

*Statistics have only included European seasons. 

English Suitability: Carlos Tévez > Sergio Agüero

Carlos Tévez was suited perfectly for English football, he loved contact, he loved working hard and chasing defenders down and winning back possession.

Whilst Juan Román Riquelme gave Argentinians a reputation for being lazy geniuses, Tévez destroyed that stereotype by working hard off the ball whilst scoring and creating goals.

Like Tévez, Sergio Agüero doesn't shy away from contact, puts in a good defensive shift, and is good team player, but I don't think he has that same level of tenaciousness that Tévez possesses.    

Playing Style: Sergio Agüero > Carlos Tévez

Goal scoring: Agüero > Tévez

Passing: Agüero > Tévez

Dribbling: Agüero > Tévez

Creativity: Agüero > Tévez

Speed: Agüero > Tévez

Defending: Tévez > Agüero

Tenaciousness: Tévez > Agüero

Attitude: Sergio Agüero > Carlos Tévez

With regards to Carlos Tévez’s attitude, Tim Vickery’s comment during Hawksbee and Jacobs explains it all, “Happiness is always somewhere he [Tévez] isn't.”

Manchester City took a gamble with Tévez given his checkered past, and a history of disloyalty and unhappiness at every club he’s been at.

From taking the Argentine Football Association (AFA) to court because he didn’t want to play for the national team, to getting into fights with his teams when he was at Corinthians, to storming out of Upton Park upon being substituted, to incessantly complaining at Manchester United—it was a risk which in hindsight backfired.  

Sergio Agüero’s attitude also raises some question marks.

During his first year at Atlético Madrid, he developed a bad habit of staying up too late, eating too much, and drinking too much coke as reported by Sid Lowe at guardian.co.uk.

The lack of loyalty to his contract, as he signed a contract extension to 2015 last December, should be noted but it is a modern trend in world football.

But what is noteworthy is Agüero attempting to force a move to Real Madrid. My goodness, where is the respect to Atlético Madrid? Fernando Torres didn’t even contemplate about moving to Los Merengues.

Just sounds awfully familiar to a certain Argentine who moved from the red half of Manchester to the blue half of Manchester in 2009.

Another slight concern for Manchester City fans is that Agüero had no plans of moving to Manchester City.

In the end, after forcing a move away from Atlético Madrid, he was forced to call Etihad Stadium home, and remember Robinho was in the same situation.

He thought he was going to live in London, and even stated he was happy to be a Chelsea player, before being corrected.

Robinho’s tenure at Manchester City was marked by a mindset which wanted a move away from Manchester.

By all accounts, Agüero is an ambitious, bright, and conscientious footballer, but his attitude isn’t perfect. But it’s better than Tévez.

Final Comments

Adiós Carlos Tévez, but to his credit, whilst he sulked off the pitch, he was a great team player on the pitch.

It's been interesting following Sergio Agüero's career, having first watched him as part of that famed 2007 FIFA World Cup winning under-20 side.

At times Agüero carried Los Colchoneros on his 5' 7.5'' frame, none more evident than last season, but at Manchester City, he'll be able to express himself.

Only if manager Roberto Mancini decides to play Agüero as a withdrawn forward, as opposed to what Atlético Madrid in playing him more forward than Diego Forlan. 

Agüero has so much to offer from a creative point of view that it would be a waste to stick him up at forward, punt the ball up to him and hope he does something. 

Manchester City has the utensils to play good football and now Mancini, who was a pioneer of panache football as a player, should create a philosophy where Manchester City plays attractive, attacking and beautiful football.

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Where does Agüero feature in my Copa América top 11 players? 

Keep up to date with the European transfer rumours.