A few days ago, former Manchester City striker Aguero was interviewed and talked about the most difficult defender he faced when he was in the Premier League.
Aguero said: "I would say Ferdinand is the hardest opponent I can deal with. He is an all-around model of the central defender, a player I have to be on guard all the time. As for my later seasons, it is Van Dijk. He is an excellent rushing defender, plays very individually and is difficult to shake. He will stare at me, and as soon as I do the move, he will immediately follow and grab the spot. I think both of them are outstanding defenders and one of the top defenders in Premier League history."
Aguero has been at Manchester City longer than any club in his career, but he has also faced many top defenders in Spain (Atletico for five seasons) and national team level.
The respect and appreciation between Ferdinand and Aguero are mutual. When Aguero left Manchester City in 2021, the former Manchester United defender highly praised him on social media: "He is one of the hardest forwards I have ever defended. Very flexible, very fast, strong, can shoot cleanly and neatly with both feet, run well, and have a strong belief in goal, this aura will emanate from his whole body."
"When a forward can face a defensive player and easily choose to cut in or out , it is a huge trouble for the defender. He is very direct as soon as he gets the ball, and his first reaction is how to create a space for a shot. As a defender, you must always be highly concentrated and make sure you know his position at all times. He is fatal. Putting aside the opponent's relationship, Aguero is undoubtedly one of the greatest strikers in Premier League history. "
Aguero played for Manchester City for 10 seasons, playing in 390 games and scoring an astonishing 260 goals. Among them, in the Premier League, he made 275 appearances, scored 184 goals, and won five league titles.
In his 15-year national team career, Aguero has made 101 appearances for Argentina and scored 41 goals. Aguero, 37, retired early in 2021 due to health problems.