Former Barcelona striker Sergio Aguero has set a €3 million payout from the former Spanish champions. The Argentine, who was forced to an early retirement from football in 2021 due to a heart ailment shortly after moving to Barca, is now demanding compensation from the Catalan Giants.
The former Manchester City star completed a move to Barca in the summer of 2021 on a free transfer after running out his contract with the English champions. He announced his retirement at the age of 33 after just five appearances and one goal for the Spanish side. The former Argentina international appeared last for Barcelona in a game against Alaves where he was brought off after complaining about chest pain. The club later revealed that his complaint was a result of arrhythmia. Following further tests, the former prolific goalscorer took a bow in a touching press conference.
However, a Spanish news outlet Mundo Deportivo has reported that the former striker wants a €3 million employment resolution payout from his former club. At the time he called time on his playing career, Aguero still had 18 months on his Barca contract which included a €100 million buyout clause. Speaking earlier this year, he described the last moments of his successful career. He said “As we reach the end of a play I jump to head and start looking at my goal. I’m starting to get dizzy, I wanted to say something and the words weren’t coming out. The Alaves defender was there and grabbed my hand. He started shouting until the referee saw me and stopped the collision. When I got down on the grass is when that pressure went down. And my heart started beating faster. I got the arrhythmia. I had already had smaller episodes. And a week before it had happened to me in training. The doctor told me to calm down that it was going to stop, but it didn’t stop. Two minutes were like 20. I took it as if it was going to cure, and I was hospitalised for four days and then the diagnosis came.”
The former EPL winner, despite the end of his professional playing career, has continued to be involved in the game. He featured in a 7-v-7 tournament in the summer representing his former club, Man City. He also had to deny reports that he could be back playing and train with Argentine side Independiente.
