Sergio Aguero may forever be remembered as one of Manchester City’s greatest players, but long before he became a Premier League icon in sky blue, the Argentine striker had already confessed his affection for Liverpool.
As City and Liverpool prepare to meet in another blockbuster clash at the Etihad Stadium this Sunday, Aguero’s past comments have resurfaced — and they paint a picture of a player who once dreamed of calling Anfield home.
Aguero’s football journey began in Buenos Aires, where he burst onto the scene with Club Atlético Independiente as a teenager, scoring 23 goals before even turning 18.
His performances in Argentina’s top flight quickly caught the eye of major European clubs, including Bayern Munich, who were among the first to scout him.
In 2005, Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge publicly hinted that the young sensation might soon be bound for the Bundesliga.
Yet, at the time, Aguero’s heart was elsewhere. During an interview with Munich newspaper TZ, the then-17-year-old made a surprising admission about where he truly wanted to play.
He said: “If I had to choose a league then it would be the Premier League. I have been a Liverpool fan for as long as I can remember and it would be a dream to play there.
“I watched the Champions League final and celebrated every goal as if it was for Independiente.”
At the time, Liverpool were riding high under Rafael Benítez, having just conquered Europe in the unforgettable 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan.
Benítez had already dipped into the Argentine market, signing defender Gabriel Paletta from Banfield, and could well have been intrigued by the striker’s talent.
Despite Aguero’s love for Liverpool, a move to Merseyside never materialised. Instead, he joined Atlético Madrid in 2006, where his star continued to rise.
In five seasons with the Spanish side, he scored 101 goals and provided 47 assists in 234 appearances.
His performances across both domestic and European competitions made him one of the most exciting young forwards in the world — and inevitably led him to England, though not to the club he once dreamed of.
In 2011, Aguero signed for Manchester City under manager Roberto Mancini, marking the beginning of one of the most remarkable Premier League careers in modern history.
His debut campaign delivered one of English football’s most iconic moments — that last-minute title-winning strike against QPR in May 2012.
Over the next decade, Aguero became the embodiment of City’s rise to dominance. Across 390 appearances, he scored 260 goals and produced 65 assists, helping the club to five Premier League titles, six League Cups, three Community Shields, and an FA Cup.
Under the management of Mancini, Manuel Pellegrini, and later Pep Guardiola, Aguero’s consistency and brilliance cemented his place among the greatest strikers of the Premier League era.
Yet even while making history in Manchester, Aguero never shied away from acknowledging the admiration he had carried for Liverpool since his youth.
Speaking to Stake in 2023, he reflected on his childhood fandom, saying: “I used to like Liverpool when I was younger because of Owen, who had also started as a teenager. Even when I was playing on my Playstation, I tried to play like Owen!”
Aguero went on to explain how that youthful admiration turned into fierce respect as he found himself battling Liverpool for domestic supremacy.
“In my 10 years at City, we’ve had amazing games with Liverpool. Even more so lately, fighting for the Premier League head-to-head,” he said.
“I’ve scored some important goals, but never got to score at Anfield, though.”
- Man City to replace Pep Guardiola with ‘world-class’ coach, now undefeated in many games
- You’re not the champions – Guardiola taunts Arsenal again, sends warning to Liverpool
When asked if he could have signed for Liverpool earlier in his career, Aguero admitted that it may never have been a serious possibility.
“I wouldn’t know, really,” he said. “I’ve read that they didn’t go out for an offer because I was very young, and it seemed like a risky bet for the transfer cost.”
It’s a fascinating “what if” for both player and club. Had Liverpool taken that gamble in 2005, English football history might have looked very different.
Instead, Aguero’s journey took him down a path that would reshape Manchester City’s fortunes forever.
Even after retiring in 2021, Aguero’s love for Liverpool — and for the game remains evident. His love for the Reds as a teenager doesn’t diminish his legendary status at City; if anything, it humanises him.
