Guardiola, Messi lead Aguero tributes
MANCHESTER City manager Pep Guardiola compared Sergio Aguero to Argentina greats Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi after the Barcelona striker announced his retirement at the age of 33 on Wednesday due to a heart condition.
Former City striker Aguero scored more than 400 goals during his 18-year career and also played for Atletico Madrid and Independiente. He won 101 caps for Argentina.
“Maradona conquered Italy, Messi did it in Spain and Aguero has done it in England, his numbers speak for themselves,” Guardiola told ESPN Argentina.
Aguero helped Argentina win the 2021 Copa America — their first major title in 28 years — and Messi paid tribute to the striker on Instagram.
“The truth now is it hurts a lot to see how you have to stop doing what you love the most because of what happened to you,” Messi said.
“We lived very nice moments and others that weren’t so much, all of them made us more and more united. We’ll continue to live them together off the court.”
Aguero’s former City teammates Vincent Kompany and David Silva also paid tribute to his exploits.
“An extraordinary striker has retired from the game, but also a great teammate, friend and unique personality. Thanks and respect to an authentic City phenomenon. I wish you nothing but the best, legend,” Kompany said.
“This announcement is to let you know that I have decided to stop playing professional football. It is a very hard decision,” Aguero said amidst tears during a Press conference at the Camp Nou on Wednesday.
“First of all, it’s my health; you know the problem I had a month and a bit ago. I was in good hands with the doctors, they told me that the best thing to do was to stop playing and I took this decision a week or 10 days ago.
“I did everything I could to see if there was any hope, but there was not much hope. I am proud and happy for how my career went.
“Since I was five years old, I have dreamed of playing football, of being in the [Argentine] First Division, I never thought of going to Europe.
“I want to thank Independiente, Atletico Madrid, who placed their faith in me when I was 18 years old, the people at City, who know how I feel, I have left the best.
“To Barcelona, it has been incredible, I knew I was coming to one of the best clubs in the world, but things happen for a reason. And to the national team, which is what I love the most.”