Saying goodbye to Sergio Aguero last summer was never going to be easy for Manchester City supporters, yet knowing we'll never see him grace a football pitch again is arguably even worse.
The Barcelona forward and City's all-time leading goalscorer has announced his retirement a little more than a month on from the worrying scenes that saw him have to withdraw from Barca’s clash with Alaves due to breathing difficulties.
Aguero has since been diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia and has subsequently decided to call time on his playing career.
The Argentinian genius will forever be fondly remembered by City fans, and so it feels right to recall the unmatched joy he was able to bring to the City faithful and the boundless love sent his way in return.
There is, of course, one goal in particular that comes instantly to mind when discussing Aguero. But there are countless other memorable moments and the strike that surpassed Eric Brook’s 79-year-old record to make him City’s all-time leading scorer was one close to perfection.
In the shadow of El Diego
Like all leading Argentinian footballers - especially those who dare to don the number 10 shirt - Aguero was no stranger to having everything he did or didn’t accomplish being compared to the inimitable Diego Maradona.
This was particularly true at international level, where Argentina’s golden generation of Lionel Messi, Aguero, Angel Di Maria and the rest repeatedly failed to live up to their collective billing - cowering in Maradona’s considerable shadow until they were able to pay a fitting tribute by lifting the Copa America in Brazil earlier this year.
Aguero’s links to Maradona are, of course, stronger than most. He was married to his daughter Giannina and El Diego was the grandfather to his son Benjamin.
“Diego and Benja got along very well. Diego was a phenomenon with my son. And Benja loved him,” Aguero told El Pais when discussing Maradona’s death from a heart attack, aged 60, last year.
Maradona truly made his case for being the greatest footballer of all time when he hauled Napoli to two unlikely Serie A triumphs, a UEFA Cup and a Coppa Italia during a remarkable seven-year stay at the Stadio San Paolo.
After his passing, Napoli renamed their home the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, but it was still under its old name when City arrived for a keenly anticipated Champions League group game on November 1, with Aguero on the brink of history.
'One of the best in Europe'
Maurizio Sarri was in charge of Napoli at the time and had moulded them into one of the most exhilarating attacking teams in Europe. City won the initial meeting 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium but Ederson had to save a penalty from Dries Mertens after the Blues surged ahead through goals from Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus.
"They are one of the best teams I have ever faced, which is why I am so proud. It was perfect. It is impossible to beat them if you don't make a good performance, and we did it, which is why I am so happy,” Pep Guardiola said afterwards with typical understatement.
"I know before the game and now I know again, I am pretty sure they are one of the best teams in Europe at this moment."
Aguero was an unused substitute that night, having only recently returned to training after suffering a broken rib in a car accident, although it was not unusual in those days to see Guardiola prefer Jesus at centre-forward - a peculiar situation to imagine now when the Brazil international generally plays on the right-wing for a City team lacking a specialist striker.
Maradona’s career was peppered with instances of him falling out with coaches and threatening to storm off elsewhere. In this respect, Aguero had the edge over his one-time father-in-law.
It’s amusing to imagine what Maradona’s reaction might have been to a Guardiola type telling him that all those goals are well and good, but we need you to run and press more. After flying out of the blocks at the start of the Guardiola era, this was precisely the ultimatum put to Aguero.
A player of his standing and achievements might have baulked at this, but Aguero got his head down and worked, attuning himself to the coach’s demands and eventually becoming one of Guardiola’s untouchables.
This status was still a little way off when he stepped out on Maradona’s old stomping ground, but the fact he had to endure to write a new page in City folklore was a testament to a supreme competitor.
The anticipated high-octane contest didn't fail to deliver, with centre-backs Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones both on target after Lorenzo Insigne put Napoli ahead, before Jorginho levelled from the spot.
Sergio’s moment arrived with a little over 20 minutes remaining. Leroy Sane tore at the centre of the Napoli defence amid a hail of boos and the ball broke to Aguero. He motored towards the centre of the goal before dispatching a trademark, thumping, flat finish from just inside the penalty area.
He wheeled away, arms outstretched, before cupping his ears to take in the jeers of those who adored his most famous compatriot. Through his perseverance and brilliance, Aguero had his own slice of history at the European arena most associated with his homeland.
“The atmosphere was great, Napoli supporters were pushing really hard and it was beautiful," he said, with the significance of where he reached the milestone not lost on a man who famously has a photographic memory of every goal he's scored
“I had a very clear idea that I wanted to put the ball in the bottom corner, just inside the post. The goal was beautiful. That was a fantastic night.
“Destiny wanted me to score it – it is a great memory and I night I will never forget.”
Aguero made so many similar memories in City colours, but the time he crashed the party to make history in Maradona's house stands above most of them.
Enjoy your retirement, Sergio. We'll never forget you.
What's your favourite memory of Sergio Aguero? Follow the City Is Ours editor Dom Farrell on Twitter to get involved in the discussion and give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
.png?w=600)
