Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero has updated fans on his health after he made a return to the pitch, scoring on his debut for Independiente’s senior side. Forced to hang up his boots in 2021 due to heart issues, shortly after a switch from City to Barcelona, the iconic striker couldn’t resist the pull of turning out for the club he first joined at just nine years old.
Playing in the senior First Division tournament, Aguero was leading the line for El Rojo against their fierce rivals, Racing, in what’s known as the Avellaneda derby at the Estadio Libertadores de America.
After the game, the ex-Atletico Madrid striker gave an update on his condition. “I’m happy,” he said. “I finished with good stamina, breathing fine.”
Despite the tie ending in a 3-3 draw, Aguero marked the encounter with a goal befitting of his storied career. A mazy run into the box followed by a smart, far-post finish around the goalkeeper saw the Argentinian star’s team-mates swamp him in celebration.
Aguero was actually back on the pitch during a Legends match in 2024, but his brief cameo ended in injury as he dislocated his shoulder. He later played in The Soccer Tournament, a seven-a-side competition in North Carolina, in June. Yet back in February, Aguero firmly dismissed rumours about returning to Independiente training. “It’s totally a lie,” he said.
“I’m not going to train with Independiente. Sometimes, things are invented. I reiterate that the cardiologist said that I am well and that it is important that I am in good health. But to return to training at the First Division level, I would need to undergo a lot of tests.”
Yet, after changing his mind, he has now teased a possible return to the pitch. “It’s always nice to meet up with former team-mates,” he said after the Avellaneda derby.
“If I’m in Buenos Aires, I told them to let me know. Are we playing on Monday against Estudiantes? I think I’m available. The idea is to enjoy and have fun.”
Speaking exclusively to the Manchester Evening News recently, Aguero opened up on making the switch to Barcelona, only to then detail the pain of his unavoidable retirement that came just four games into his time with the club.
“A call came where my agent told me Barca asked if I was willing to go there, but economically, they couldn’t pay what City paid me,” he said.
“I said, ‘Well, it doesn’t matter to me’. I knew what City paid wouldn’t be matched by any big team due to my age, so I said, ‘Let them put whatever numbers they want and try to sort it out’. That’s what I told my agent and things got sorted very quickly.
“When it was almost agreed, I told Leo [Messi] and he was happy and well then everything happened as it did. What can you do? I was excited to play with him, but football is like that and things happen that you have to accept.”
Aguero scored 323 goals for club and country during his impressive 18-year professional career, with a staggering 260 of those netted for City, making him the club’s all-time top scorer. He also had a spell at Independiente, where he bagged 23 goals in 56 appearances before making the switch to Atletico Madrid back in 2006.
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