Sergio Aguero’s father has launched a scathing attack on Pep Guardiola, claiming the Manchester City manager “never wanted” his son at the club.
City’s record scorer walked away on a free following their Champions League final defeat at the hands of Chelsea last weekend.
He has subsequently joined Barcelona where he hopes to link up with close friend and compatriot Lionel Messi.
Aguero’s Etihad departure was an emotional one, bringing an end to a trophy-laden spell in Manchester.
Guardiola offered an emotional tribute following his final Premier League game for the club, struggling to hold back tears as he spoke about Aguero’s lasting impact.
He told Sky Sports: “He’s a special person. He’s so nice. He helped me a lot … We cannot replace him, we cannot. There are many players in this club – Joe Hart, David Silva [are others] – who helped us to be this club. We have his legacy. He showed his quality in 30 minutes.
“Sergio is irreplaceable. I could say in terms of numbers he could be replaceable but it’s not easy. When you see around 360 games and more than 250 goals, the amount of titles.
“He’s a legend, the best striker I ever had at this club… but he’s irreplaceable in the mind for our fans, to our people and to the players that played alongside him or the manager who worked with him.”
However, Sergio’s father Leonel del Castillo has suggested Guardiola’s tears were fake and that if he was so adamant about his talents, he would have tried harder to keep him.
“I don’t believe his tears. For me, he never wanted Kun. He always wants to be the main man and not the players,” he told A Radio La Red, via TYC Sports.
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“I don’t believe [in] Guardiola. He never wanted it [the CL trophy], he wants to be the protagonist of all the teams.”
“He says that he [Aguero] is irreplaceable and he does not have him in the squad.
“There are things about Guardiola, he is a great coach. But from one day to the next the players change you, the environment changes. You never know if you are a starter or not.
“There is someone who says if you are not here to stay at the club and you have no choice but to change. He was [allowed to stay] until the last time [he renewed his contract] but it was not possible to stay with the team where he is an idol.”
Aguero did initially struggle for minutes under Guardiola, with Gabriel Jesus instead preferred. However, he would eventually win him over, remaining the regular until his final season.
Leonel joins Sergio’s brother Mauricio in doubting Guardiola, again hinting the legendary boss didn’t ever want the striker at the club.
He made his comment in a tweet he later deleted, writing: “Guardiola never wanted my brother since his arrival at City.”
