As was speculated for months ahead of the summer transfer window, Argentine striker Sergio Aguero agreed to join Barcelona in June.
Aguero, who became a free agent following his lengthy run at Manchester City, opted to sign a two-year free transfer deal with the Catalan giants.
There was much talk following Lionel Messi's departure from Barcelona that Aguero wanted to leave the club even before making a mere one appearance with the side. Much was noted that Aguero joined Barca with one reason being his aspiration to play alongside Messi for the first time at the club level.
As Aguero revealed to the Spanish-based outlet El Pais, he wanted to sign with Barca regardless of whether Messi would continue at the club.
“Let's be honest, what player doesn't want to be at Barca?” Aguero said. “I would say that most players would like to wear this shirt, no matter how good or bad Barca is.
“I arrived with the expectation of playing with Leo and putting together a good team, which was what the club was trying to do. When they called me I thought ‘I don't care what they pay me. I'm getting well and I'm going to help the team as much as I can.'”
The departure of Messi from Barca was one that sent shock waves throughout the footballing world. Messi aspired to prolong his stay at Barca, but financial complications within the club coupled with its notable salary cap issues prevented this from coming to fruition.
This call was one that caught both Aguero and Messi off guard.
“It was a moment of shock,” Aguero said. “He was in a very bad way. When I found out, I couldn't believe it. That Saturday I went to see him at his house. And, because of my personality, as I didn't see him well, I tried to make him forget what had happened. I saw that he was a little off, and I tried to distract him.”
Aguero is yet to feature with Barca this season due to a calf injury, but he did recently make his return to training.
Barcelona will return to action following the October international break with a home La Liga fixture against Valencia.
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