ARGENTINA STRIKER SERGIO Aguero could make a surprise debut in this weekend’s Dublin Super Cup once his move to Manchester City has been confirmed.
The Eastlands club are awaiting the completion of all the necessary paperwork with Atletico Madrid before signing off the £35million club record deal for the Argentina international.
If he’s going to be popping over, we should better acquaint ourselves. Here’s what you need to know.
- He was born Sergio Leonel Aguero del Castillo on 2 June 1988 in Quilmes, Argentina.
- Aguero was given the nickname ‘Kun’ by his grandparents due to his resemblance to 1970s Japanese cartoon character, Kun Kun.
- He made his debut for Independiente against San Lorenzo aged 15 years and 35 days, breaking the 27-year-old record of his future father-in-law, Diego Maradonna. “I was a lot younger and smaller than most of the players, so I had to learn how to avoid and dodge agressive tackles” he recalls.
- During the 2005 FIFA Under 20 World Cup, he represented Argentina alongside one Lionel Messi. Unsurprisingly, Argentina walked away with the title. Aguero would later go on to win the title once more, in 2007, scoring six goals in seven games and winning both the Golden Boot and Player of the Tournament awards.
- Aguero scored 18 goals in 36 games for Independiente during the 2005-2006 season, attracting the attentions of top European clubs.
- He signed for Atletico Madrid in May 2006 for a club record €20 million. “Signing with Atletico was one of the best decisions of my life”, Aguero said. “It helped me become stronger, both physically and mentally, on and off the pitch.”
- His first goal for Atletico came against Athletic Bilbao in September 2006. Earlier that month he made his senior debut for Argentina in a friendly against Brazil at the Emirates.
- He has since scored 13 goals in 30 appearances for his country, including two against Brazil in the semi-final win at the 2008 Olympics. Aguero would go on to win gold with his compatriots.
- Following the departure of Fernando Torres to Liverpool, Kun formed a deadly partnership with Diego Forlan at Atletico, scoring 19 times in his second season. He finished as La Liga’s third-highest scorer and helped Atleti qualify for the Champions League.
- In 2010, he set up Forlan twice in the Europa League final, helping Atletico beat Fulham 2-1.
- Last season he scored 20 league goals, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
- Despite Argentina’s poor form in the recent Copa America, Kun scored three times in the cometition, including a brace against Costa Rica.
- As mentioned earlier, Aguero is married to the youngest daughter of Argentinian legend Diego Maradonna, Giannina. The two started dating at the end of 2007 and have a two-year-old son together named Benjamin.
- Aguero has Benjamin’s name tatooed down the inside of his left arm, while his right arm has Kun Aguero inscribed on it in Tengwar, an elven language created by J.R.R. Tolkien for his Lord of the Rings books.
- And, speaking of Benjamin, it looks like he’s inherited the footballing touch from his dad and grandfather. Check out the video — they’re some serious skills for a two-year-old.
Additional reporting by Adrian Acosta.
