FC Barcelona striker Sergio Kun Aguero on Wednesday announced his retirement from football at the age of 33 after being diagnosed with a heart problem.
The Argentine footballer complained of chest pain and breathing issues in Barcelona’s 1-1 draw against Alaves in La Liga on October 30.
Barcelona confirmed that Aguero was suffering from arrhythmia, which is associated with improper beating of the heart, whether irregular, too fast or too slow.
Since then, the forward had undergone regular cardiac exams to monitor his well-being before the doctors came to a conclusion that it is better he cuts his career short.
“This news conference is to communicate that I’ve decided to stop playing soccer. It’s a very hard moment but I’m at peace with the decision I made,” a tearful Aguero stated at the Camp Nou.
— Sergio Kun Aguero (@aguerosergiokun) December 15, 2021
“It’s a decision that I made to preserve my health. It’s what the doctors said to me, that it would be better to stop playing. I made the decision around 10 days ago.”
Aguero’s total goals scored in his career
Having made his professional debut on July 5, 2003, Sergio Kun Aguero netted 427 goals in 786 games in his illustrious career. The 33-year-old played for Independiente, Atletico Madrid, Manchester City, FC Barcelona and the Argentina national team.
At 15 years and 35 days, Aguero became the youngest player to play in the Argentina Primera Division, breaking the record of Diego Maradona.
The Buenos Aires-born footballer later moved to Europe to play for Atlético Madrid in La Liga in 2006.
Having represented the La Liga outfit for five seasons and scoring 74 goals, Aguero signed for Premier League club Manchester City in 2011.
During his 10 years at the club, Aguero became the fourth-highest goalscorer in the Premier League, netting 184 goals in 275 matches. The Argentine striker has the best goal-scoring rate in the league, scoring a goal every 108 minutes.
Aguero helped Manchester City claim their first top-flight title since 1968 after he scored a last-gasp winner against Queens Park Rangers to clinch the 2011-12 Premier League title by denying arch-rivals Manchester United by virtue of goal difference.
Thank you, Sergio 💙#ManCity pic.twitter.com/idj2Rf8RxL
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 15, 2021
Having won five Premier League titles, Aguero moved to Spain to play for FC Barcelona in 2021. He could only make four appearances for the Catalan giants.
The Barcelona forward’s last career goal was against Real Madrid in the El Clasico in their 1-2 defeat in La Liga at Camp Nou.
“I am very proud of my career. I always dreamed of a professional career since the first time I touched a ball at 5,” Aguero added at the press conference.
The Argentine ends his professional career with 17 trophies, 15 of which came during his stay at Manchester City.
Featured photo: Pau BARRENA / AFP
