Burkina Faso
Croatia
Czech Republic
Indonesia
International Tournaments
Nigeria
Republic OF Ireland
South Africa

Tearful Aguero confirms retirement due to heart problem as Guardiola watches on

talksport.com, 15 December 2021, 11:42
Sergio Aguero has confirmed his retirement from football, stating: "I will leave with my head held high."

The legendary ex-Man City striker, who scored one of the most iconic goals in Premier League history, was in tears as he spoke in a press conference at the Nou Camp on Wednesday.

Aguero suffered chest pains in his first competitive start for the Spanish club against Alaves in October and was substituted before half-time.

He was immediately taken to hospital for cardiological tests, before Barca confirmed the striker would initially be out for three months.

However, the 33-year-old has now followed the advice from doctors and called time on his illustrious career.

He said in a press conference at the Nou Camp: "This conference is to announce I have decided to stop playing professional football. It is a very difficult moment.

"The decision I have taken for my health; the problem I had a month and a half ago.

"I have been in good hands with the medical staff. I made the decision 10 days ago after doing everything possible to have some hope of playing on. I am very proud for my career.

"I always dreamed of a professional career since the first time I touched a ball at five.

"I want to thank Atletico Madrid who took a chance on me when I was 18 and Manchester City, everyone knows who I feel about City and how well they treated me there."

He added: "I will leave 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 the amazing things."

City boss Pep Guardiola and sporting director Txiki Begiristain, who both worked with Aguero during his time at the Etihad Stadium, were in attendance at the Nou Camp.

The Argentine won City their first Premier League title with his last-minute goal against QPR in 2012, helping them to further four during his time at the club.

He then moved to Barcelona in the summer, after ten years in Manchester, but only played five times for the LaLiga side.

He did, however, score for the club in an El Clasico against Real Madrid - the final goal of his career.

Aguero said, when asked what the favourite moments of his career were: "Winning the Europa League with Atletico was a really happy moment and then, obviously, with City, the goal I scored to win the first Premier League.

"For me and City, that was a beautiful moment.

"There are a lot and the last was the Copa America. I only played two or three matches, but it was something that we had been looking for for years and years.

"And of course, I will take my last goal against Madrid. It is not bad for a last goal is it!?"

Show more

Top News

2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United have reportedly agreed a deal with Brighton & Hove Albion to loan Evan Ferguson. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have completed the signing of Lens defender Kevin Danso on loan with an obligation to buy at the end of the season. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Jim White and his yellow tie. Harry Redknapp leaning out of his car window to exchange pleasantries with reporters. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa will reportedly have the chance to sign Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford on a permanent basis during this summer's transfer window for £40m. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly considering making an attempt to sign Aston Villa attacker Leon Bailey on loan for the second half of the 2024-25 campaign, as the Red Devils looks to bring in a replacement for Marcus Rashford. 2 February 2025 talksport.com Marcus Rashford was told Ruben Amorim would not play him at Manchester United if he stayed at the club, talkSPORT understands. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid suffered a major blow during Saturday's shock 1-0 defeat to Espanyol, with Antonio Rudiger being forced off in the first half of the La Liga contest with a suspected muscular problem. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Adana Demirspor vs. Kasimpasa (Sunday, 10.30am) With each passing gameweek in the 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig, Adana Demirspor's hopes of avoiding relegation continue to fade, and the league's bottom side will look to keep their survival dreams alive when they host Kasimpasa at the New Adana Stadium on Sunday. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Sporting Lisbon vs. Farense (Sunday, 6.00pm) Fresh off the back of reaching the Champions League knockout phase, Sporting Lisbon welcome SC Farense to the Estadio Jose Alvalade in round 20 of the Primeira Liga on Sunday. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Almere City vs. RKC Waalwijk (Sunday, 11.15am) With both teams running out of time to preserve their Eredivisie status, Almere City and RKC Waalwijk will do battle at the Yanmar Stadion on Sunday afternoon. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona vs. Alaves (Sunday, 1.00pm) Barcelona's pursuit of La Liga leaders Real Madrid will continue on Sunday afternoon, when they welcome struggling Alaves to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys for a must-win contest. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Juventus vs. Empoli (Sunday, 11.30am) After back-to-back defeats, Juventus will seek an end to their three-game winless streak on Sunday, when they welcome Serie A strugglers Empoli to Turin. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Frankfurt vs. Wolfsburg (Sunday, 2.30pm) Eintracht Frankfurt's home clash against Wolfsburg at Deutsche Bank Park on Sunday in the Bundesliga could be hugely significant in the race for Champions League football. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Toulouse vs. Nice (Sunday, 2.00pm) Europe hopefuls Toulouse welcome Champions League-chasing Nice in Sunday's gameweek 20 Ligue 1 action at Stadium de Toulouse. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Motherwell vs. Celtic (Sunday, 3.00pm) Motherwell, looking to rebound from three consecutive defeats, will host Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic at Fir Park on Sunday afternoon. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The opening match in the Coupe de France round of 16 will see Dunkerque seeking an upset victory over Lille on Tuesday at Stade Pierre-Mauroy. 1 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Troyes will seek a place in the Coupe de France quarter-finals for the first time in a dozen years when they host Brest on Tuesday at Stade de l'Aube. 1 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are in negotiations with Borussia Dortmund over a deal to send midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka on loan to the Signal Iduna Park, according to a report. 1 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tyrell Malacia's proposed loan move from Manchester United to Benfica has reportedly collapsed due to the Portuguese side failing to meet the Red Devils' demands. 1 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers have confirmed that influential attacker Matheus Cunha has signed a new contract at the club until the summer of 2029. 1 February 2025 talksport.com Jude Bellingham was every football fan as the Real Madrid star reacted in awe to Chris Wood's hat-trick. 1 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Carlos Romero scored the only goal of the match as Espanyol recorded a shock 1-0 victory over Real Madrid in Saturday night's La Liga contest in Catalonia. 1 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly set to hijack Wolverhampton Wanderers' proposed move for Lens defender Kevin Danso, who is now on his way to North London. 1 February 2025 talksport.com Tottenham have hijacked Wolves' deal to sign Kevin Danso on a permanent basis, talkSPORT understands. 1 February 2025 talksport.com Arsenal must take full advantage of Manchester City's makeshift defence to keep their faint Premier League title hopes alive. 1 February 2025 talksport.com Fabian Hurzeler has been branded as a 'disgrace' for seemingly failing to acknowledge Brighton's travelling fans following their record defeat. 1 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has admitted that he is concerned by the injury that Trent Alexander-Arnold suffered during Saturday's Premier League clash with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. 1 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund has explained why Mathys Tel was not involved in Saturday's Bundesliga contest with Holstein Kiel. 1 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Galatasaray will look to keep their title charge on track when they travel to face Gaziantep at the Gaziantep Stadium on Monday.