Sergio Aguero's Dad Denies Reports Star Will Join Lionel Messi at Barcelona

After rumours began circling again that Manchester City's Sergio Aguero might be joining compatriot Lionel Messi at Barcelona, Aguero's father Leonel del Castillo has laid any further speculation to rest.

It would appear that in 2014, a World Cup year, del Castillo wants nothing distracting his son in the lead-up to the tournament. 

Per Mundo Deportivo (h/t ESPN), he said:

I would like to see Sergio and Messi playing together, but there is nothing at all.

They are very good friends. He and Leo are always talking on the telephone, and even more since the draw.

They like to joke among themselves, and they are already biting at each other. Imagine what it will be like when they meet on the pitch!

It was a clear reference to the mouth-watering meeting on Feb. 18 between the sides in the Champions League.

Aguero has continued his fine form this season for the Citizens, scoring 19 goals in all competitions, whilst an injury hit Messi, yet he has still managed to contribute 14 of his own, despite missing two months of the season.

With a much-publicised fallout between Messi and Barca director Javier Faus still taking up the column inches, Aguero and former Barca midfielder Yaya Toure haven't been backwards in coming forwards, trying to persuade Messi to swap the sunny climbs of Barcelona for a wet and windy Manchester.

Such sentiment will no doubt continue until the Argentine captain signs a rumoured, per Football Espana, new and improved contract at Camp Nou.

Now injured himself, Aguero will hope to be firing on all cylinders by the time the La Liga champions are in town, but he faces a race against time to get to full match fitness.

Asked to make a prediction, del Castillo was torn:

It is a pity that City and Barca are meeting already. You really like Messi, but you want your son's team to win.

I would like Sergio to score, if God wills it, but above all that Manchester City wins. A 2-0 in the first leg and, in the return, at least a 1-0.

All Barca's players are very good, but they must be careful with City's players, who are also really good. Plus they are hungry for trophies, and for such champions there is no bigger challenge than Barcelona.

The outcome of this two-legged affair will have a huge bearing on either team's season, with the pressure already on both managers for differing reasons.

Gerardo Martino has only lost two of his games in charge but is still to win over the fans with his brand of football, whilst Manuel Pellegrini's swashbuckling side are taking all before them but haven't yet proven their consistency away from home.

For 180 minutes in February and March, any friendship between Messrs. Aguero and Messi will be put to one side as they spearhead their sides' respective charge for European glory.

It promises to be a fascinating contest and one in which del Castillo and everyone else should savour.