Sergio Aguero has talked up the qualities of Argentine compatriots Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez ahead of Saturday's Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan.
The 35-year-old will be in attendance at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul to cheer on the Citizens, who he scored a club-record 260 goals for in 390 appearances during a trophy-laden 10-year career at the Etihad Stadium.
Aguero was also a spectator during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar which Argentina won for the first time in 36 years, with both Alvarez and Martinez receiving winners medals after battling with each other throughout the tournament for starts in attack alongside talisman Lionel Messi.
Both Argentine attackers could potentially go head-to-head in Saturday's Champions League final, with the victor in Istanbul to become just the 10th player in history to win both the World Cup and European Cup in the same season – only Roberto Carlos (2002 with Brazil and Real Madrid) and Raphael Varane (2018 with France and Real Madrid) have successfully achieved this feat this century.
Aguero is proud to see both Alvarez and Martinez reach the showpiece event and believes that both players have played important roles for their respective clubs this season, but the Man City legend has insisted that he is rooting for the former to come out on top this weekend.
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"It's a great pride to have two major Argentine players in the Champions League final," Aguero told mancity.com. "We've seen the brilliant season Julian has had, with positive notes in every direction.
"I've always said it's not easy to adapt to your first season in Europe when you have come from South America, but even so, Julian was able to perform excellently and stay up to the level demanded by a club like City.
"He's scored crucial goals, adopted the team's style, and showed nothing but commitment. There's many joys to come for City thanks to Julian, I believe.
"As for Lautaro, after the World Cup, he's had a very important part to play for Inter and he's a key member of the team.
"It'd be great to see him play with Julian at the same time – but I cannot be neutral in this case. I hope City and Julian win this game, that's what we've all been waiting for."
Alvarez has scored 17 goals in his debut campaign with Man City across all competitions, as well as netting four times for Argentina at the World Cup, while Martinez is Inter's top scorer this term with 28 goals in all tournaments, including a brace in the Coppa Italia final win over Fiorentina last month.
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Martinez is set to be joined in attack by 37-year-old Edin Dzeko, who played alongside Aguero at Man City for six seasons, with the pair most notably scoring in the famous 3-2 victory over Queens Park Rangers to clinch the club's first Premier League title in 2011-12.
Dzeko has contributed with 14 goals for Inter this season, including four strikes in the Champions League, and Aguero has admitted that is pleased to see his former teammate still thriving at such a high level in the latter stages of his career.
"It does make me really glad. He deserves it," said Aguero. "He's an amazing player and a great human being, too.
"I can't help looking back to the goal he scored against QPR in 2012 – that made turning the tables possible in such an important match.
"Edin remains a dangerous player with a will to score at any moment. I'm not surprised he's been able to perform so well this season."
Having already won the Premier League and FA Cup this term, Man City will be looking to clinch a historic treble as well as their first-ever Champions League with victory on Saturday, while Inter are hoping to lift the trophy for the first time since 2010.
Oliver Thomas
