One that got away 🤦‍♂️: Sergio Agüero to Juventus | OneFootball

Atlético Madrid have housed some of the best strikers in the world over the past 15 years.

With so many of them though, there comes a point when the Colchoneros simply cannot hang on to them anymore.

For Sergio Agüero, that moment came in the summer of 2011 when the supremely talented 23-year-old Argentine decided to depart the Spanish capital.

Juventus, with new boss Antonio Conte in charge, were keen to strengthen in the final third and identified Kun as the man to reinvigorate them and inspire them to a first title since their demotion to Serie B in 2006.

They wasted little time and while the striker himself was taking part in the Copa América, Juve aimed to steal a march on the competition by submitting a €40 million offer.

That was discussed in person with Atlético by Bianconeri director Giuseppe Marotta, with La Gazzetta dello Sport even reporting that they’d already agreed personal terms with Agüero on a five-year deal worth €7.5 million per season.

“I’m aware of Juve’s offer but only when the Copa is over will I finalise my future,” the striker told reporters on international duty.

“There are negotiations going on with Juventus but I don’t know how much they have offered for me. That’s something for my agent to deal with.”

For their part, Juventus made no secret of their desire to bring the former Independiente man to the club, with Marotta even going public about Juve’s interest.

“His arrival would undoubtedly increase the quality of the team,” he admitted. “He’s a great player.”

But Argentina’s involvement in the latter stages of the Copa América meant that Juve didn’t have the chance to finalise a deal – with the Agüero camp insistent it had to wait until the tournament concluded.

By the time that happened in mid-July, Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini had grown tired of the uncertain situation surrounding striker Carlos Tevez and decided he needed an alternative.

The man identified was Agüero and the Citizens lodged a £38m offer just days after Argentina’s exit from the tournament.

A week later, on 28 July, he was officially unveiled as a Manchester City player and it hasn’t worked out too badly for him at the Eithad at all.

Agüero has gone on to become the club’s all-time highest goalscorer (oh what could have been in Turin) with 254 goals and counting.

But things didn’t work out too badly for Juventus either.

Two days after their top target spurned them in order to move to England, they settled for a decent consolation prize by bringing in Mirko Vučinić from Roma for €15m.

He scored the opening goal on the penultimate weekend of the season as Juventus were crowned champions once again and they haven’t relinquished their grip on the trophy since.

So while it may have been a shame at the time to miss out on such a terrific talent, we think it has ultimately worked out well for all parties involved in the end.