Football fans have been nervously waiting on news of the condition of Sergio Aguero after revelations that the Barcelona striker is suffering from a heart problem.
Aguero was substituted during Barca’s La Liga game against Alaves on October 30, suffering from breathing difficulties.
It was only the forward’s second start since joining the club in the summer.
Reports say that the Argentinian is suffering from a heart problem called cardiac arrhythmia.
Now, Spanish radio station Catalunya Radio report that the condition may force Aguero to retire from football.
Let’s take a look at what we know about Aguero’s condition so far, what the man himself has said, and if there have been similar cases:
What happened to Sergio Aguero?
Sergio Aguero went down, holding the top of his chest during Barca’s recent clash against Alaves.
Following that, he had to be treated by medical staff on the field of the play.
Subsequently, Aguero was taken to the hospital for thorough checks.
He was reportedly diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia – an irregular heartbeat.
Could Sergio Aguero be forced to retire?
At this stage, it is unknown whether the condition will force Aguero to retire.
Catalunya Radio has claimed (as per AS) that the problem is more complicated than expected after Aguero’s most recent tests.
They also add that Aguero’s condition is “incompatible with the practice of professional football”.
What has Aguero said?
Aguero put out a short message on social media after his initial tests.
He said: “Hey, Culers! Sending you all a hug. Thank you for all the messages of support.”
“Now it’s time to recover and wait for more news. Sending you all a big hug.”
His former Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, said (via Metro): “We wish him a safe recovery. It doesn’t matter the time. Health is most important than anything else.”
“He’s in good hands. He will take care of himself. I wish him the best recovery, and he can come back to play again. Otherwise, he enjoys his life and enjoys what he has done.”
“I don’t know what he has. He has to be careful and safe for the rest of his life.”
Have there been similar cases recently?
Sergio Aguero is not the first player to suffer from a cardiac-related problem in 2021.
During Euro 2020, Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest during the first half of Denmark’s match against Finland.
The Inter Milan midfielder had to be resuscitated by medical staff and taken to the hospital.
He has an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) device in place. The device’s presence means he currently cannot play football in Italy.
Eriksen could maybe be able to play elsewhere. However, he would surely need to undergo strict medical tests and prove that he can withstand the rigours of top-level football again.
Ajax defender Daley Blind has the same device.
He was diagnosed with heart muscle inflammation after suffering from dizziness during a Champions League game in October 2019.
He has since made a return to football. Blind is still a regular for Ajax. He has made 53 appearances in the league since the start of the 2019/20 season.
Featured Image Credit: Getty
