• Premier League

Aguero aiming for Messi levels - Pellegrini

Sergio Aguero is aiming to become as good as his close friend Lionel Messi, according to Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini.

The Argentina international is in a rich vein of form, after scoring 15 goals in his last 12 games, and Pellegrini believes that he is the third finest footballer in the world after Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. And he is challenging the striker to his compatriot and the Real Madrid winger at the top of the tree.

Pellegrini said: "That is what we are working on every day and what he wants. The ambitions of Sergio will be very important if he can arrive at that level."

The Chilean believes the 25-year-old is the top player in England, adding: "I said last week after Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo he is the best. Both are not playing in the Premier League so he is."

Former Villarreal, Real Madrid and Malaga manager Pellegrini came up against Aguero in La Liga, when the forward played for Atletico Madrid.

And he is convinced that Aguero has improved since then and believes his work closing down opponents this season is proof he is developing other elements of his game.

He said: "He is a better player because he is older. He arrived in Spain when he was 18 or 19 years old. He was always a very important player, a top player, but this year he is trying to work a little bit more without the ball. Three or four goals of the last goals we scored are because he is doing a good job pressing their defenders. I think he is more complete."

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