A visibly irritated Pep Guardiola refused to answer questions on Sergio Aguero during his pre-match press conference ahead of Manchester City’s trip to Sunderland.

The City manager gave short shrift to a reporter when asked to comment on Aguero’s long-term future, which has come into doubt following the emergence of Gabriel Jesus.

After scoring twice in Wednesday’s 5-1 victory over Huddersfield Town in an FA Cup fifth round replay, Aguero revealed he wishes to hold talks with the club at the end of the season.

World's highest paid footballers Show all 10 1 /10 World's highest paid footballers World's highest paid footballers 10. Sergio Aguero (Manchester City, £240,000 p/w) Aguero famously won the league title for Manchester City at the end of his first season in 2012 and inspired his club to another Premier League title in 2014. He is the highest-scoring South American in Premier League history. Getty World's highest paid footballers 9. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United, £250,000 p/w) The Swedish striker has won 13 league titles in 15 seasons in European football and recently scored the Premier League’s 25,000th goal. Getty World's highest paid footballers 8. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United, £260,000 p/w) England’s all-time leading goalscorer, Rooney has won a whole host of awards in his career to date and needs just three goals to overtake Bobby Charlton as his club side’s record marksman. Getty World's highest paid footballers 7. Graziano Pelle (Shandong Luneng, £260,000 p/w) Pelle moved to Shandong in July this year from Southampton, where he spent a relatively successful two years after making his name at Feyenoord. World's highest paid footballers 6. Paul Pogba (Manchester United, £290,000 p/w) The world’s most expensive player was bought back by Manchester United four years after they sold him to Juventus, where he developed into a world-class midfielder. Getty World's highest paid footballers 5. Neymar (Barcelona, £305,000 p/w) At just 24 years old, the Brazilian has won almost everything there is to win in the game, with only the World Cup missing from his CV. Getty World's highest paid footballers 4. Hulk (Shanghai SIPG, £320,000 p/w) The powerful forward made his name at Porto before moving on to Zenit St Petersburg and this year he joined the influx to the ever-growing Chinese league to play under then-manager Sven Goran Eriksson. Getty World's highest paid footballers 3. Lionel Messi (Barcelona, £336,000 p/w) The five-time Ballon D’Or winner has broken endless records since his Barcelona debut in 2004, winning La Liga eight times and the Champions League on four occasions. Getty World's highest paid footballers 2. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid, £350,000) The former Tottenham winger is arguably Britain’s greatest ever export, having helped his side to two Champions League titles in three seasons since his arrival in Spain in 2013. Getty World's highest paid footballers 1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, £365,000 p/w) The Portuguese forward is the all-time leading scorer for both club and country and recently captained Portugal to victory in Euro 2016. Getty

However, Guardiola only reiterated his usual response to questions on Aguero by insisting that both he and the Argentinian are “so happy”.

“I spoke 10 times about that. 10 times,” he said. “You know my opinion. I cannot answer every single press conference about Sergio Aguero. He is so happy, I am so happy. We are happy. 10 times I answer. No more please.”

Guardiola’s mood lightened when the line of questioning to Sunday’s meeting with basement club Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, which will be a reverse of his first Premier League fixture in charge.



Following that opening day victory Guardiola saw his side win their next five in the league, only for their early lead at the top of the table to be cut down by Chelsea.

City are now 11 points behind Antonio Conte’s juggernaut but wins over Sunderland and then Stoke City at the Etihad on Wednesday could cut down that to as little as five, provided the leaders lose at West Ham United on Monday night.

“We are in a good moment now but we have to repeat every single game, again and again. We are far away from the first game in the Premier League. New game. Tottenham and Liverpool were not able to win in Sunderland,” Guardiola said.

“After 7 months together, you make things, that’s normal. We try to improve on our mistakes, we see the opponents and how good they are, what we can do to get better.