Following Manchester City’s fourth goal of the evening against Swansea City on 15 August 2011, no words were initially required between my friend and I, as we exchanged knowing glances at the Etihad Stadium.
The boy from Buenos Aires was here, and he was going to be great.
Few foresaw just how great Sergio Kun Aguero would actually become though following his £38 million transfer from Atletico Madrid (BBC Sport).
The tributes that have been pouring in following last night’s bombshell that Kun will be leaving the Etihad Stadium speak for themselves.
“His legend will be indelibly etched into the memories of everyone who loves the Club and maybe even in those who simply love football,” said City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak (mancity.com).
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“For me, he is the best player in the history of the club,” gushed teammate and understudy Gabriel Jesus (Sky Sports).
“Legend. What a player,” added the Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer Alan Shearer (@alanshearer).
Kun’s departure will hit every City fan like a truck.
It’s been 10 years of dancing through defences and deadly finishing, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a team that hasn’t felt the South American sharpshooter’s wrath.
There have just been so many highs at the club over the last decade, with Kun being front and centre of everything.
Him winning the Golden Boot in the 2014-15 season, the 13 Premier League hat-tricks, becoming the club’s all-time leading goalscorer and the haul of 13 trophies all spring to mind.
And of course, he is responsible for that goal, which will almost certainly never be topped in terms of pure drama.
It is quite right that there is now a fierce debate taking place on social media off the back of Kun’s announcement about who has been the best striker to grace the Premier League since its inception.
While most may not think he is the best ever, he is absolutely in and around the likes of Shearer and Thierry Henry, and his record of 181 goals and 54 assists in 271 games, along with his soon-to-be five title wins, most definitely suggests him as being a Premier League great.
It could potentially be some time before we see another player of his ilk.
The man has been sheer dynamite under each of Roberto Mancini, Manuel Pellegrini and Pep Guardiola, and I hope more than anything he can finish the 2020/21 season holding aloft that elusive Champions League trophy – a prize truly befitting of the sensational player he has been.