Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini believes Sergio Aguero could still have a long future at the club.

The prolific Argentina striker was quoted this week saying he intends to return to boyhood club Independiente when his current contract at the Etihad Stadium expires.

The 27-year-old, who has scored 128 goals for City since his £38million (Dh201m) arrival in 2011, is committed to the club until 2019. City were understood to be keen to discuss new terms and Pellegrini, although he himself is leaving in the summer, thinks that could yet happen.

He said: “Sergio knows why he wants to do it. It’s difficult to talk about what will happen in two or three years more because players change their minds. Maybe he can be happy to return to Argentina but Kun has a lot more years here in Europe.”

Pellegrini’s main focus is the short term and pulling City back into the title race. They sit fourth, trailing leaders Leicester by 10 points with a game in hand, heading into today’s game against struggling Norwich.

He said: “We’ll focus on trying to win at Norwich and we’ll see the way the other teams manage the pressure between now and the end of the season.”