Manchester City icon Sergio Aguero has made a stunning revelation about his time in English football, disclosing that he came extremely close to leaving the Etihad Stadium to join Premier League rivals Chelsea back in 2017.
A Decade of Dominance at Manchester City
The Argentine striker enjoyed a phenomenally successful ten-year spell with Manchester City after his £35 million arrival from Atletico Madrid in 2011. Aguero made an immediate impact with one of the most memorable debuts in Premier League history, coming off the bench against Swansea City to score twice and provide an assist in a comprehensive 4-0 victory.
This spectacular introduction proved to be a sign of things to come, as Aguero established himself as one of the greatest forwards ever to grace the English top flight. During his remarkable City career, the prolific marksman netted an astonishing 184 goals in just 275 Premier League appearances, while accumulating 260 strikes across all competitions from 390 outings.
Trophy-Laden Legacy
Although Manchester City never managed to secure the Champions League during Aguero's tenure, the Argentine international collected an impressive haul of domestic honours. His trophy cabinet includes five Premier League titles, one FA Cup triumph, and six League Cup victories, cementing his status as a true club legend.
Aguero departed Manchester in 2021 for Barcelona, where his career was unfortunately cut short by a diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmia, leading to his premature retirement from professional football.
The Chelsea Transfer That Almost Happened
In a fascinating interview with La Agusneta, Aguero has now disclosed that his Manchester City story could have taken a dramatically different turn. The 37-year-old revealed that in 2017, he was "on the verge of going to Chelsea" before Manchester City executives cancelled the proposed transfer at the very last moment.
Chelsea's interest came during a period when Antonio Conte's side had just secured the Premier League title in the 2016/17 season. The Italian manager was seeking a replacement for the departing Diego Costa and identified Aguero as his preferred striking option to partner Eden Hazard in Chelsea's attack.
What Might Have Been
Manchester City will undoubtedly be relieved that they blocked Aguero's potential exit, as the striker responded with a spectacular 30-goal campaign during the 2017/18 season. He continued to excel for the club for three more campaigns, further enhancing his legendary status at the Etihad.
Instead of securing Aguero's signature, Chelsea turned their attention to Real Madrid's Alvaro Morata, completing a £58 million transfer for the Spanish forward. This alternative acquisition proved less successful than Aguero's continued exploits at Manchester City.
Previous Tensions Between Aguero and Conte
The revelation about the near-transfer is particularly intriguing given the history between Aguero and Conte. Earlier in the 2016/17 season, the Chelsea manager had publicly criticised Aguero following a dangerous challenge on defender David Luiz during a Premier League encounter.
Aguero received a four-match ban for the tackle, which even the notoriously physical Conte described as "very bad" and "dangerous." The Italian admitted he had been "afraid" and "scared" when reviewing the incident, expressing genuine concern for Luiz's welfare.
Despite this previous confrontation, Conte clearly saw past the incident when identifying Aguero as his preferred striking target for Chelsea's title defence. The manager's willingness to pursue the Argentine demonstrates the high regard in which he held Aguero's abilities, even after the controversial on-field incident.
Aguero's disclosure provides fascinating insight into the transfer market machinations that occur behind the scenes in elite football. The revelation highlights how close one of the Premier League's greatest ever players came to representing two of England's most successful clubs, potentially altering the landscape of English football history.
