Featured Image Credit: Instagram/Alamy
Topics: Sergio Aguero, Lionel Messi, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, La Liga, Ligue 1
Jack Kenmare
Topics: Sergio Aguero, Lionel Messi, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, La Liga, Ligue 1
Sergio Aguero was convinced somebody had hacked into Barcelona's social media account when they announced the departure of Lionel Messi.
The pair have been close friends for 17 years after they first met at a training camp with the national team.
Aguero was with Argentina's under-16s at the time, while Messi was preparing for the South American under-20s championship. Years later, former Atletico Madrid forward Aguero recalled their meeting.
Advert
"I said quietly to him 'what's your name again', and he says 'Leo'. And I said 'No. What's your name?' And he said 'Lionel' and laughed. 'And your surname?', 'Messi.'
"My two friends looked at me and said 'You don't know who it is?'"
Both players became friends from that point on. And finally, after years of playing against each other with their respected clubs, Messi and Aguero would become teammates at Barcelona. Or so they thought.
In May 2021, it was announced that Aguero would join Barcelona on a free transfer from Manchester City.
But as we all know, Messi joined French side Paris Saint-Germain in August of that year, meaning the pair never got to play together at club level.
Aguero has recently revealed his shock at his friend's departure in an interview with Jose Alvarez.
“How did I find out about Messi’s departure from Barça? I was with Ibai drinking mate and suddenly… he looks at the phone and says to me: ‘No, is this true?’ and shows me the phone with the Barça official announcement.”
Aguero added: “When Barcelona announced Messi’s departure I thought someone had hacked Barça’s social networks. I thought it was a joke."
Aguero retired months later because of a heart condition and his close friend, Messi, said it 'hurt' to see his international teammate call an end to his remarkable career.
He wrote in an Instagram post: "Practically a whole career together, Kun. We lived very beautiful moments and others that were not so, all of them made us unite more and be closer friends.
"And we are going to continue living them together off the pitch.
"With the great joy of lifting the Copa America so little ago, with all the achievements you achieved in England. And the truth is that now it hurts a lot to see how you have to stop doing what you like the most because of what happened to you."
Messi added: "Surely you will continue to be happy because you are a person who transmits happiness and those of us who love you will be with you.
"Now a new stage of your life begins and I am convinced that you are going to live it with a smile and with all the illusion that you put into everything.
"All the best in this new stage. I love you a lot, friend, I'm going to miss a lot being with you on the pitch and when we get together with the national team."