The 33-year-old has explained that he is proud of his career and has thanked all the clubs he has been to: Independiente, Atlético de Madrid, Manchester City, Barça and also the Argentina national team. . “I leave with my head held high and very happy with my career. I don’t know what awaits me now, but I know that I am surrounded by people who love me and who will help me. I will now have a quiet time, that the life of a footballer, even if it doesn’t seem like it, is also sacrificed and involves giving up many things. But later, in one way or another, I will continue to be linked to football.
Barça player Kun Agüero’s press conference to announce his retirement from professional football
Despite being overwhelmed by tears at all times, Kun also wanted to make a joke, showing that the sense of humor that has always accompanied the career of a footballer known for his goals, but also for his smile. “I thank all the press for the treatment I received. I have all been treated well. Well, maybe not all, but nothing happens,” he said jokingly. The Argentine has wanted to have words of gratitude for everyone on the most difficult day of his career, that of retirement. “The first two weeks, when I had my first tests and the doctors told me there was a very good chance I would have to stop, they were very hard. When they told me it was final, I wanted to keep hoping. , but with a cold head I knew it couldn’t be, “he said.
“At Barça we have been left wanting to see you more, but we consider that you have made the right decision and you have all our support”, explained Joan Laporta. “to be proud of what you have sown throughout your career as a footballer and now you have to reap the rewards. You deserve the best. I remember when you played in the League, at Atlético de Madrid, and you are the envy of all the Catalans “. On his brief visit to Barcelona, where he arrived last summer and where he has only been able to take part in just five games as a Barça player, he wanted to highlight “the esteem of the fans: from the youngest to the youngest big ones, I noticed it on the street. ” The Argentine also highlighted the soul of Barça’s dressing room, with “many young people eager to learn”.
Agüero also reviewed the best moments of his career: “A goal with Independiente, at the age of 17, which I scored against Racing. One of the best I’ve ever done. Then I also have many memories in the Europa League with Atlético. or the goal against Queens Park Rangers that was my first Premier League. “Oh, and I don’t want to give up, my last goal was against Real Madrid, which isn’t bad, is it?”
A statue in Manchester
Where the figure of the Kun is especially iconic is in Manchester. The Argentine played for ten seasons at City (2011-2021) in which he won, among other national titles, five leagues. “He is one of the three most important players in the history of the City, especially in the modern and successful history of the club. has been his most important player “, explains Pol Ballús, Catalan journalist based in Manchester and co-author of the books Pep’s City: the making of a super team i Manchester Notebook: How and with whom Pep Guardiola conquered England. Ballús recalls that City has commissioned a statue of Kun, which will be installed this summer around the Etihad, where there are other players such as David Silva and Vincent Kompany. “Silva and Kompany are two of the other great protagonists in the successful contemporary history of City, but Agüero also connected a lot with the fans. He was not only a striker who scored many goals, he was a charismatic footballer, a friendly face of the team “, explains, for his part, the correspondent of The Athletic in Manchester, Sam Lee.
Agüero, who in 390 games as a citizen he scored 260 goals – the most in the club’s history by far – is well-liked by City fans because “he basically gave a lot of people in Manchester the best time of their lives”. “Kun is the scorer in the 93rd minute at Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the 2012 Premier League. in the city since the 1990s. That goal also ended more than forty years of drought for City in the Premier League, “said Ballús. A moment that many fans have immortalized on the skin in the form of a tattoo and even this season’s shirt of the City is screen-printed the minute 93.20 on the neck, on the inside.
“This league was the most important turning point in the history of the club and Agüero was the protagonist, arriving at the club when it was just changing and leaving, ten years later, leaving him as a transatlantic liner.” adds the Catalan journalist. The figures also support the trajectory of the Argentine in England: he is the top scorer in the history of the Premier League with the same team (184 goals) and the fourth overall in the competition, only behind legends like Alan Shearer (260 ), Wayne Rooney (208) and Andrew Cole (187). “Apart from scoring a lot of goals, he scored some very important goals and also against the great Premier League teams: Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea …”, says Lee. In addition, the Argentine is the player with the most hat-tricks in the history of the Premier, with 12. Alan Shearer (11) and Robbie Fowler (9) complete the podium. “It’s not okay for me to say that, but I’ve been a crack,” Kun said. Tears have finally given way to his charismatic smile.
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