Barcelona striker Sergio Aguero announced his retirement due to heart disease in an emotional press conference
Barcelona and Argentina star Sergio Aguero has announced his retirement due to a heart condition.
Aguero moved to Camp Nou on a free transfer in the summer after he left Manchester City, following the previous 10 years of a career at the Etihad Stadium. A calf injury caused the 33-year-old to miss the start of the season at Barca, and he finished just five appearances for the club before a serious health threat kept him out. competed indefinitely, eventually forcing him to call his own time. career.
What was said?
During his official press conference at the Camp Nou, Aguero confirmed his heartbreaking decision to hang up his boots rather than take the risk to continue playing.
“This conference is to announce that I have decided to stop playing professional football,” he said. “It was a very difficult time. I made the decision for my health [and relates to] problem that I had a month and a half ago. I was well supported by the medical staff.
Aguero was joined by a number of key figures in his announcement. Barcelona president Joan Laporte was at his side through the announcement, with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola also present. Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez was also present, along with representatives of other clubs with which Aguero played during his career.
“I made the decision 10 days ago after doing everything I could to hope to continue playing. I am very proud of my career. I have always dreamed of a professional career since the first touch. I got my hands on the ball at the age of 5. I want to thank Atletico Madrid who gave me the opportunity when I was 18 and Manchester City, everyone knows how I feel about Man City and they have treated me well. I will go with my head held high I don’t know what awaits me in the next part of my life but I know I have people who love me I will always remember remember great things.”
‘Life comes first’
On Wednesday, Aguero took to social media to post an emotional open letter detailing his decision to quit the game.
After receiving feedback from doctors, Aguero has come to the decision “life comes first”, saying his forced retirement has not been a tragedy given the heights he has reached. be in his professional career.
“Life goes on, and there’s a lot more ahead,” said Aguero in a statement. “It will be a new phase, really a different phase, but I will continue like what I have done so far: stay positive, enthusiastic and cheerful.”
Aguero’s heart condition
Aguero was initially hospitalized after suffering chest pain during Barcelona’s 1-1 draw with Alaves in November.
The Argentine, who began his career at Independiente before joining Atletico in 2006, underwent a series of tests before doctors identified an arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat. , was the root cause of his discomfort.
If Aguero continues to play, he will put his life in danger, as was the case with Denmark’s Christian Eriksen at Euro 2020.
Aguero’s career
Sergio Aguero started his career through the youth team of Argentine club Independiente. He would make his club debut in 2005, and soon impressed enough to earn a move to Spanish side Atletico Madrid in 2006.
Five years and exactly 100 goals later, he is on his way to Manchester City, where he will become a club legend during his 10-year spell with the English club. He will be an integral part of securing the club’s first Premier League title, scoring the iconic goal against Queens Park Rangers to help City move past rivals Manchester United at the top. top of the table with just a few seconds left of the season. He made 390 appearances for City in all starting periods, scoring 260 goals and winning five Premier League titles, one FA Cup and six League Cups.
Internationally, Aguero will eclipse the century mark for Argentina, having made 101 appearances from his 2006 debut against Brazil to his last appearance in the 2021 Copa America quarter-finals against Ecuador. an opponent that Argentina famously won. He has scored 41 international goals, the most recent being in a friendly in 2019 against Uruguay.
