Sergio Aguero to Independiente Transfer Guaranteed for 2017 by Hector Maldonado

Independiente secretary general Hector Maldonado has startled Manchester City fans after proclaiming Sergio Aguero will be back at his boyhood club in 2017.

Aguero has made no secret of his desire to return to his former outfit before hanging up his boots, but Maldonado told Argentinian broadcaster TyC Sports that reunion will come about next year (h/t Daniel Panero of Spanish daily Marca). He said: "Sergio Aguero will be playing for Independiente in 2017."

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The Argentina striker grew up as an Independiente supporter and joined their academy at the age of nine before eventually leaving for Atletico Madrid in 2006 for a club-record figure of €23 million.

That transfer materialised three years after "Kun" became the Argentine Primera Division's youngest-ever debutant at the age of 15, per Sportskeeda, breaking the record previously set by Albiceleste legend Diego Maradona: 

Maldonado's claim is up for scrutiny when considering Aguero is still just 27 years of age and entering the period of his career usually perceived to be a forward's peak. Not to mention the fact his contract doesn't expire until 2019, meaning Independiente would have to somehow muster funds to tempt City into a sale.

It appears too good to be true as far as any fans of the Argentinian club will be concerned, and the player himself even admitted to French magazine So Foot in December that 2019 is the most likely return date (h/t ESPN FC's Richard Jolly): "I have always said that I want to return to Independiente and I will do just that. I will return to Independiente when my contract with City expires. I do not want to make my comeback when I am too old. If everything goes well, I will return to the club of my heart at the age of 31."

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Snagging their old charge at the age of 31 would be no small feat for Los Diablos Rojo, either. Paris Saint-Germain star Zlatan Ibrahimovic remains one of Europe's hottest forwards at the age of 34, although a lot will depend on how the injury-prone Aguero maintains fitness in the next three-and-a-half years.

Despite his various absences, Aguero has been a talismanic presence for City since arriving in 2011, and ESPN FC's Jake Cohen recently outlined him as the Premier League's most prolific player since July 2012:

When asked by Goal whether he would prefer to retire at Manchester City alongside Lionel Messi or end his playing days with Independiente, Aguero teased the thought of his international team-mate joining him in Avellaneda:

Independiente would undoubtedly be eager to get their hands back on Aguero as soon as possible, considering it's been almost a decade since arguably their greatest-ever academy product left for Europe.

It appears to be a matter of when and not if the forward stages his comeback, but figurehead Maldonado feels safe in the knowledge that reunion will happen sooner rather than later.