Sergio Agüero is due to announce his retirement from football on Wednesday because of a heart condition, six months after Manchester City’s record scorer joined Barcelona as a free agent.
The 33-year-old experienced chest problems and breathing difficulties during the first half of Barcelona’s 1-1 draw with Alavés on 30 October. Agüero fell to the turf at the Camp Nou clutching his chest and was treated for several minutes before being able to walk off. He was admitted to hospital for cardiological tests, the club later stating that he would be out for three months and would undertake a “diagnostic and therapeutic process”.
Agüero, though, is unable to resume a glittering 18-year-career that began at Independiente, when he became Argentina’s youngest top-flight debutant. After three years the striker moved to Atlético Madrid in 2006, before signing for City in 2011.
His first season at the club ended in a career highlight when his 94th-minute winner against Queens Park Rangers snatched top spot from Manchester United and gave City a first title since 1968. A decade at the club saw him score 260 goals in 390 appearances, 184 of which were in the Premier League, a record for one team.
His final City appearance ended in the heartbreak of a Champions League final defeat by Chelsea, with another career low point being the 2014 World Cup final loss to Germany.
In five matches for Barcelona Agüero scored once, in a 2-1 defeat by Real Madrid. He found the net 41 times in 101 games for Argentina.