Sergio Aguero reveals how he learned English at Manchester City without a teacher or ‘ever picking up a pencil’ | OneFootball

Legendary former Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has revealed how he went about learning English at the Etihad Stadium without ever having a teacher.

The iconic Argentine forward established himself as Manchester City’s greatest-ever striker over the course of a 10-season period at the club, holding the title for the all-time record goalscorer to date.

While many believe current centre-forward Erling Haaland could pose a significant threat to Aguero’s tally of 260 goals during his time at Manchester City, the legacy of the former Atletico Madrid forward at the Etihad Stadium will remain long-standing.

Such is the wide respect and admiration for the player’s achievements in Sky Blue that a decision was taken upon his exit in 2021 to commission a permanent statue outside of the Etihad Stadium alongside works to recognise Vincent Kompany and David Silva.

But Aguero’s remarkable achievements at Manchester City extended beyond the pitch and into his own personal life, departing the club with an adequate English speaking ability that enabled him to say farewell to supporters in many of their language.

Speaking during a new interview with The Guardian’s Sid Lowe, the former Argentina international striker revealed the relatively unique way in which he went about learning English at Manchester City after a nervy start at the club.

“I didn’t know any English at all,” Aguero said referring to his arrival at Manchester City following a big-money move from Atletico Madrid. “Pablo Zabaleta helped me a lot. David Silva was there, Yaya Touré, [Carlos] Tevez,” he continued.

“When I sat on the English table, I would be thinking: ‘Shit.’ They would say: ‘Come, sit down.’ I would listen and, bit by bit, without ever picking up a pencil or having a teacher, I would get it.

“The English boys were very good with me. They treated me well, defended me. My biggest concern anyway was on the pitch. And I ended up quite good.”

Sergio Aguero has largely paved the way at Manchester City for many subsequent Argentine stars and rising stars to develop their respective careers in European football over at the Etihad Stadium.

Since his departure from the club, a number of players from the South American nation have followed in his footsteps to try and recreate magic that he instilled for Manchester City supporters over the best part of a decade.

Julian Alvarez claimed a historic Treble in the 2022/23 season including the UEFA Champions League title, while also playing a huge role in the club winning a fourth consecutive Premier League crown before leaving for Atletico Madrid.

Maximo Perrone has also put his trust into the development path outlined by Manchester City and now looks set for a permanent career in Italian football with Como, while Claudio Echeverri is the latest to be taking the first steps at the Etihad Stadium this season.