Manchester City insist that they did not allow Sergio Aguero to play for Argentina when he was injured.
Aguero was substituted after scoring five goals in 20 minutes against Newcastle last Saturday and afterwards boss Manuel Pellegrini explained that he had been replaced because he had suffered a knock.
The former Atletico Madrid hit-man then pulled a hamstring in Argentina’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying defeat against Ecuador in Buenos Aires on Thursday night and is likely to face at least a month on the sidelines.
But City have rejected suggestions that they could have prevented Aguero from playing for his country.
A senior source said: “Sergio was fit to play when he left us and trained normally with Argentina before the game.
“He wasn’t injured against Newcastle. He suffered a slight knock and the manager made it clear he was substituted as a precaution because the game was won.
“Sergio did have treatment in the dressing room after he was brought off but it was not serious enough to warrant him pulling out of the Argentina squad.
“He certainly didn’t have a problem with his hamstring and once it was deemed he was fit to travel, we were obliged to release him to Argentina.”
The extent of Aguero’s latest muscle problem will be assessed fully when he returns to Manchester.
City are still waiting for confirmation of the player’s travel plans.
There are suggestions in Argentina that it is a strain rather than a full tear - but that will still take a minimum of three weeks to heal properly.
Aguero has already had a spell on the sidelines this season after suffering a knee injury at Crystal Palace.
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