When you make a compilation of all the goals Sergio Aguero has scored in his life, the strike against Queens Park Rangers on that 2012 May afternoon will remain on top of the charts. And irrespective of how many titles Manchester City may win in the next 100 years, that goal will always have a special place.
At 2-2, City needed a goal against Queens Park Rangers to win their first league title in 44 years and the stocky Argentine, getting a ball from Mario Balotelli, drove it into the far corner to set the City of Manchester stadium into a frenzy.
It was a day you will not forget, whichever club may you support.
On Monday, as news trickled in that City would not offer an injury-stricken and corona-ravaged Ageuro a new contract, one cannot help but remember that Sunday evening (Indian time) when Aguero came up with that heart-stopping goal.
The broadcaster was already showing Manchester United partying, thinking that the title was in their pocket, but the deafening roar from “noisy neighbours” said something different.
As one United fan tweeted on Monday: “Gave me the worst moment in football, won’t miss him but I have to admit he was a great player.”
Yes, Aguero is a great player, and had a greater impact on the Premier League than all the Thierry Henrys. No footballer in the Premier League has been as decisive as Aguero in front of the goal. His numbers would drive home that point. Before this season, his lowest goal tally for a campaign was 17. He scored 28 goals or more in six successive seasons. His list of honours is similarly impressive: Aguero has won four Premier League titles, an FA Cup and five League Cups with City. The only trophy missing in the cabinet is the Champions League and City are still on course this season. Who knows, when he leaves at the end of the season that also may adorn his drawing room.
Aguero is part of the golden generation of Argentine football who played three finals (World Cup, Copa America and Copa Centenero) in three years yet finished runners-up. He is an Olympic goal medal winner and won the U20 World Cup. Somehow his success at the club has not really translated into his exploits in the Argentine shirt. Will the 2022 World Cup exorcise the ghosts of those three final heartbreaks? Only time can tell.
Aguero’s first headline-grabbing performance came albeit in a different way. It was during the initial Atletico Madrid days when he scored off his hand. Obviously parallels were drawn between him and his more illustrious predecessor Diego Maradona (he had later married Maradona’s younger daughter Giannina) but he showcased his real class in March 2008 when he single-handedly destroyed an ageing Barcelona in a 4-2 romp. Kun, as he is fondly called by his fans, inspired from a Japanese cartoon character, had arrived and how!
Aguero’s departure will complete the cycle which began with the exits of Vincent Kompany and David Silva. They were part of the City resurrection game plan, which took the Premier League by storm. The baton now goes to the likes of Kevin de Bruyne and Ruben Dias but City will miss the diminutive Argentine for sure.
His next stop could be Barcelona where friend Lionel Messi (if he stays beyond this season) will welcome him with open arms. Joan Laporta, the new Barcelona president, wants to sign the striker but is yet to present him with a formal contract offer.
Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus are also in the loop but nothing concrete has happened.
“When a cycle comes to an end, many sensations arise,” Aguero posted on social media.
“A huge sense of satisfaction and pride remains in me for having played with Manchester City for a whole ten seasons — unusual for a professional player this day and age. I will continue to give it my utmost for the rest of the season to win more titles and bring more joy to the fans.”
Yes, of those many more titles, Champions League definitely tops the list but City will never look the same without him.
