The rise of Sergio Aguero

Sergio Leonel Aguero del Castillo was born on June 2nd, 1988 in Quilmes, Argentina.

Aguero was given the nickname El Kun by his classmates because of his likeness to a Japanese cartoon character called “Kum Kum”.

He became the youngest person ever to play in Argentina’s top flight after making his debut for Independiente against San Lorenzo aged just 15 years and 35 days.

Aguero said this of his early start, to the BBC: “Football surrounds you in Argentina and so I began playing at a very young age. The truth is that I had always lived with the ball at my feet.”

“As soon as class ended in Quilmes in Buenos Aires, my friends and I would start up a game. In Villa Itali, the neighbourhood where I was raised, there was also a pitch where we used to gather with the local kids and organise games.”

El Kun has looked back and commented on his earlier debut.

“I was a lot younger and smaller than most of the players, so I had to learn how to avoid and dodge aggressive tackles,” said Aguero.

After managing to score 23 goals in 53 league appearances for Argentine side Independiente, the youngster started to attract the attention of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Aguero joined Spanish giants Atletico Madrid in May 2006 for around £14million.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has admitted that he turned down the chance to sign Sergio Aguero, before El Kun joined Atletico. Benitez felt the asking price for the then 17-year-old was to high.

“Two years ago the agents were talking with us about players and he was one of those but he was too young,” Benitez told The Times.

“Atletico paid big money for him, around 18million euros [about £14million] for a player who was a risk.

“In the Premier League it’s different and sometimes players will need more time here to improve.”

Aguero made his La Liga debut for Atletico against Racing Santander on August 27, 2006. El Kun scored his first goal for the club the following month against Bilbao. He struggled to make an impact at the club while in the shadow of Fernando Torres.

When Torres joined Liverpool, Aguero started to shine for the Spanish side.

Aguero finished the 2007/08 season as La Liga’s third highest goal scorer with 19 goals.

He made his senior debut for Argentina in the friendly against Brazil at the Emirates stadium in London in September 2006. He is now a regular in the squad.

Recently Aguero has been linked with moves to Manchester City, Manchester United, Inter and Real Madrid. It is expected Aguero could leave Atletico for more than £50million.

Aguero goes out with one of Diego Maradona’s daughters and is there for known as ‘God’s son-in-law’ in Argentina.