Exclusive: Sergio Aguero heaps praise on “very good” Abdukodir Khusanov | OneFootball

Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero has insisted his former club have a “great defender for many years” in Uzbek star Abdukodir Khusanov.

The 2025/26 season has proven to be a defining one for Manchester City, particularly in defence where injuries have tested the squad’s depth, and few stories have been as compelling as the rise of Abdukodir Khusanov – rapidly establishing himself as a trusted option.

Signed in January 2025 as a long-term project, the Uzbekistan international initially faced questions about his readiness for the Premier League following a difficult debut at home to Chelsea.

However, a combination of composure, athleticism and tactical intelligence has seen him grow into a key figure during crucial moments of the campaign, featuring in domestic cup ties and high-stakes European nights to demonstrate a maturity beyond his years.

Speaking exclusively to City Xtra on behalf of Stake, Sergio Aguero piled on the praise for Khusanov – who is playing an increasingly important role for Manchester City this season at the centre of defence.

“He has had very good games this year. He went through a normal adaptation process and now we can see the results,” said the former Argentine striker.

He continued, “He is strong, very fast and wins duels. He is only 22, so that means City has a great defender for many years.”

But competition for places are only becoming more and more difficult and one player who may find that challenge presented to him in the summer is Vitor Reis – particularly given the signing of Marc Guehi and integration of Max Alleyne.

“The good thing for a team like City, which always wants to be a contender in every competition it plays in, is that it has options in different positions,” explained Aguero.

“In that sense, I understand that this will be evaluated over time. The recent injuries to several players in the defence at the same time show that it is very important to have these options available.”

Abdukodir Khusanov’s development throughout his young career so far has not gone unnoticed, reportedly attracting interest from Real Madrid alongside Manchester City’s eventually successful pursuit over a year ago.

Individual recognition has followed his journey into arguably Europe’s best league too, including being named Asia’s Best Young Footballer of 2025 and earning a place in the IFFHS Asia Best XI.

Despite battling his own fitness setbacks earlier in the campaign, Khusanov has consistently returned to the starting picture and even shown versatility when deployed at right-back. With a long-term contract and his reputation growing, he is increasingly viewed as a cornerstone of City’s next-generation backline alongside new arrivals such as Marc Guéhi.

As the club pursue silverware on multiple fronts, Sergio Aguero’s public endorsement only strengthens the belief that Manchester City may already have secured a defensive pillar capable of anchoring their ambitions for years to come.