Sergio Aguero: I used to dodge bullets
Posted Wednesday, August 17, 2011 by thesun.co.uk
'UGLY' BACKGROUND ... instant hero Aguero
SERGIO AGUERO may be loving Manchester City right now -- but he is just happy to be alive.
The new Etihad hero showed just why he cost a whopping £35million with Monday night's brilliant debut as second-half sub against Swansea.
Aguero, 23, was smiling like a Cheshire Cat after scoring two goals and setting up another in his supershow.
But when the Argy striker recalls a childhood spent dodging bullets in the Buenos Aires slum he used to call home, he knows simply being able to play the beautiful game is enough for him.
Aguero recalled: "I lived in the neighbourhood of Quilmes, near to Buenos Aires.
"It was a complicated place where ugly things happened. But I lived there and there wasn't anything I could do about it.
"My dad was working hard just to get by, making sure there was food to put on the table.
"From what I can remember, it was always really tough for him. Then, when I was 10, I moved away with the help of Independiente. When I was a kid there were always shots being fired.
"I would be sitting and could hear them knowing one could hit me.
"I could have died there. There were people running around with guns. It was messed up.
"Now I remember when I used to play in that environment and it makes me enjoy what I am doing more.
"I'm in a good place now and can experience a lot of things that I was not able to when I was a kid.
"I remember listening to River Plate games on the radio. I had wanted to play football since I was a kid so being away from home is not a problem and I'm always in touch with my family.
"When it comes to training or playing the first thing I try to do is to enjoy myself and to do things well.
"All I wanted to do when I was a kid was play and now I'm doing it I just enjoy it and remember where I am and where I came from."
Aguero tapped in City's second goal against Swansea just nine minutes after making his entrance as sub. And he brilliantly set up a third for David Silva before sealing a 4-0 triumph with a stunning strike in injury time.
The former Atletico Madrid star's cracking cameo more than made up for the absence of Carlos Tevez from the City line-up.
Wantaway Tevez's move to Brazilian outfit Cornthians fell through last month and he is now hoping Inter Milan will make a bid before the transfer window shuts on August 31.
But, although Tevez's future in Manchester remains uncertain, but Aguero admits his Argentina team-mate is his idol.
He added: "He's my hero, my role model, my reference point. It was all about Tevez when I was in my formative stages as a footballer.
"I was 12 or 13 years old and I used to follow him closely. When I was 17 or 18 he was at Boca Juniors and I loved him as a player.
"I thought he was great. I wanted to watch him because we played in more or less the same position.
"We had the same style. The difference was that he was at Boca and I was at Independiente.
"Carlos likes to struggle and to fight - and I wanted to be like that too."
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