Aguero: I want to be City's Maradona

Sergio Aguero has vowed to do for Manchester City what Diego Maradona did for Napoli.

The dazzling striker arrived in Manchester this summer for £38million from Atletico Madrid and has already become a hero at the Etihad Stadium with six goals in his first four league games.

He knows the Argentine magician better than most as he began dating his daughter four years ago and they’re now married with a son.

And although he wasn’t even born at the time, he knows all about Maradona’s move from Barcelona to Napoli and how it changed his life and the team’s. Maradona helped the unfashionable club upset Italy’s established order of Juventus, AC Milan and Inter.

He led Napoli to the most glittering period in their history and between the late 80s and early 90s, they won their only two Serie A titles, the UEFA Cup and the Coppa Italia.

Now Aguero is taking inspiration from his father-in-law’s achievements as City attempt to break Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal’s grip on the Premier League.

“I hope I can help Manchester City do great things like Diego did with Napoli,” said the prolific striker.

“I’m coming here to help the team develop and win titles and if we can do that this year, it will be perfect. But we’ll keep on trying to get better and better and I hope to play a big part in that.”

Aguero lived up to the advance hype and found a place in City fans’ hearts just eight minutes after coming on for his debut against Swansea on August 15 with a debut goal.

And he had them dreaming of a new hero in stoppage time that night with a blistering 30-yard strike for his second.

He scored again against Tottenham and his hat-trick against Wigan took his tally to six goals in his first four league games, and a growing reputation which could rival the way Maradona was revered in Italy.

Ironically, Napoli provide the opposition on Wednesday for City’s first Champions League game. But Aguero was disappointed that Maradona will not be there because of coaching commitments in the Middle East.

He had a Champions League taster with Atletico Madrid a couple of seasons ago, and added: “Diego can’t come because he’s in Dubai training his team. The league is starting there so he won’t be able to make it.

“I played with Atletico Madrid in the Champions League and we had a good campaign.

“With City, we’re looking to go as far as we can, but now we’re just concentrating on the group stage .”

Aguero played in the Champions League in 2008-09 for Atletico in a group that contained Liverpool. He scored three goals, against PSV and Marseille, helping Atletico reach the knockout phase where they were beaten on away goals by Porto.

The following season he came off the bench against Chelsea and scored both goals in a 2-2 draw.