Barcelona: Aguero salary gesture paves way for Dani Alves

Sergio Agüero bade farewell to football in an emotional press conference after medical advice forced him to retire due to a heart condition and the Barcelona forward has made a final gesture to the club that signed him from Manchester City last summer.

According to Catalan daily L’Ara, in a report later confirmed by several more regional media outlets, Agüero unilaterally waived the second year of his contract at Camp Nou and asked to only be paid a part of his deal for the current season, an amount that will be covered by the Liga club’s medical insurance policy due to the nature of the player’s retirement. Agüero’s gesture will be a huge relief to Barcelona’s accountants, who are facing an extremely sensitive financial situation.

Agüero was the first signing of Barcelona president Joan Laporta’s second spell at the head of the Camp Nou board, arriving on a free transfer from Manchester City. The Argentina international was injured for the start of the season and didn’t make his debut until October but the club was expectant that the prolific forward would help to solve the side’s lack of finishing prowess this season. However, due to that injury and the subsequent arrythmia Agüero suffered during a game against Alavés on 30 October. As such Agüero only managed one goal for Barcelona, a late consolation in a 2-1 Clásico defeat against Real Madrid.

Agüero gesture paves the way for Dani Alves

Agüero’s gesture towards the club means that Barcelona can now register Dani Alves after the Argentinean was removed from the wage bill. Alves, who rejoined Barcelona last month five years after he left for Juventus, can now be cleared to play from 1 January, 2022, and is likely to be used by Xavi as an alternative to Sergiño Dest, who will be allowed to leave Camp Nou if a suitable offer arrives.