Sergio Aguero has issued an emotional update about the heart condition that forced him into early retirement.
After leaving Manchester City in the summer, Aguero joined Barcelona on an initial two-year deal.
Nursing a calf injury when he arrived in Catalonia, the Argentine striker spent the first two months of the season in the treatment room.
Eventually making his debut in mid-October, Aguero played three minutes as a substitute during a 3-1 over Valencia.
He wouldn’t have to wait long for his first goal in Blaugrana colours, netting a consolation in Barca’s El Classico defeat to Real Madrid last October.
Read: Does Sergio Aguero need to retire? What we know about the Barcelona striker’s heart condition
But during Barcelona’s clash with Deportivo Alaves later that month, tragedy struck.
Taken off in the 41st minute of the match, Aguero complained of a chest problem to the Barcelona doctors but would require further tests to determine the problem.
Aguero forced to retire with heart problem
Initial assessments revealed Aguero was suffering from cardiac arrhythmia, and although doctors said he would miss just three months, Aguero would never return to the pitch.
No sooner had he arrived at Barcelona was he saying goodbye, with a teary address at the Camp Nou in December confirming the retirement speculation.
Aguero revealed his reasons for retiring aged just 33-years-old in front of family, friends and ex-teammates:
“This press conference is to communicate that I’ve decided to stop playing soccer. It’s a very hard moment, but I’m at peace with my decision.
“I made it to preserve my health. It’s what the doctors said to me, that it would be better to stop playing. I decided around ten days ago.”
Aguero health update
Fast forward two months, and the former City forward has issued another update.
Speaking to Spanish journalist Miquel Blázquez, Aguero revealed:
“Now I play soccer and I drown. Sometimes I think if I can run at least one sprint.
“I feel like my heart just doesn’t work.”
A tragic end to the career of one of football’s most devastating forwards.
During his 18-year playing career, Aguero made over 500 professional appearances, scoring an impressive 282 goals.
Most of those goals came at City, where Aguero broke the club’s record goals tally.
Netting 184 times for the Blues, Aguero lifted one FA Cup, three Community Shields, six League Cups and three Premier League titles.
But none of Aguero’s achievements will beat his late strike against Queens Park Rangers; he dramatically handed City their first Premier League title.
A true legend of the game and a player that the history books will forever remember as one of the greatest ever to grace the pitch.
