Sergio Aguero has revealed he was once dropped and fined for being too fat by Pep Guardiola at the start of the Manchester City boss’ reign.
The 34-year-old has lifted the lid on the Spaniard’s strict fitness rules, which he fell foul of five years ago after weighing more than 80 kilograms.
City boss Guardiola has guided his side to four Premier League titles since taking charge in 2016.
And part of his huge success at the Etihad Stadium is down to his uncompromising demands, with City‘s all-time top scorer Aguero opening up on Guardiola’s dietary and fitness regime.
Appearing in El Chiringuito’s live stream, the retired striker declared he was once left out of the starting XI for being overweight.
Aguero remarked: “In the first season we were between fourth and third [in the Premier League] and he said: ‘I left you out because you turned up fat this week’.
“What was I going to say? He was right. These things happen.
“You come across a little bit of chicken for example, then you are going to be 50 grams over.
Most read in football
“If your ideal weight is 79-80kg and you were 80 kilos and 100 grams you would be fined and you wouldn’t play. He said it in a good way.
“At that time, I didn’t really have his confidence. But I was always very respectful to the coaches…”
There was a time during the 2016/17 season where Aguero looked to be heading out of the door with Arsenal ace Gabriel Jesus preferred instead.
But the ex-Barcelona man and Guardiola patched up their differences in several talks, with Aguero acknowledging he struggled to adapt to the coach’s intense style of play.
The 2021 Copa America champion was told to constantly press – something he didn’t have to do under predecessor Manuel Pellegrini.
Aguero said: “When I arrived, Guardiola asked me to press the centre backs a lot, and then I didn’t have oxygen to attack.
“I wasn’t used to pressing but Guardiola taught me the way to do it.”
After ten years at City, Aguero departed in 2021 having banged in 260 goals in 390 games – winning 15 major honours.
He signed for Barcelona, but sadly was forced to hang up his boots after making only five first-team appearances, and scoring one goal.
Midway through his fifth game for his new club, against Alaves in LaLiga, Aguero was taken to hospital after experiencing cardiac arrhythmia.
In November it was claimed he would be on the sidelines for at least three months, but in December a tearful Aguero announced his retirement on the advice of doctors.