Aguero risks Mancini anger over fitness

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero is set to anger Roberto Mancini by claiming he could be fit to play for Argentina next week.

Aguero has been ruled out of action since he injured his knee in the opening Premier League game of the season against Southampton, when he was stretchered off the pitch after only seven minutes.

However, the 24-year-old flew back to his home country to be assessed by his national team’s doctors, and did not rule out representing his country next week in a World Cup qualifier against Peru.

“I’m here until the Peru game,” he told reporters on Wednesday. “Today, the knee still hurts and it bothers me, but things might change in two or three days. I will see the doctors of the Argentine FA.”

Although Mancini was not allowed to stop Aguero from flying to Argentina, the City boss has in the past voiced his frustrations regarding the FIFA rule that means players must be allowed to be assessed by national team doctors.

“It is ridiculous,” Mancini said last month. “These are the rules and we need to respect these rules, but they are ridiculous rules.

“It’s impossible because Sergio needs a minimum of two weeks without training and then maybe he can start again. He can’t go (to Argentina).”

Even though Aguero has been selected for the Argentina squad, coach Alex Sabella will not make any decisions about the fitness of the 34-million-pound striker until the weekend.

Even though Manchester City are said to be annoyed with the situation, they have ensured that a good relationship is kept between the Argentinean FA and the Premier League club.