When Manchester City secured the signing of Sergio Aguero for £35 million in the summer of 2011, they were acquiring one of the most exciting young strikers in world football. The Argentine was 23 years old and had already established himself as a major talent during five years at Atletico Madrid, where he had moved as a teenager from Independiente for €20 million.

As the transfer window approached, several of Europe's biggest clubs circled Aguero. Among the most serious contenders was Juventus, who were bracing for the end of Alessandro Del Piero's legendary career in Turin and were looking for a striker to carry the mantle.

A dream that pointed to England

But Aguero's heart was set on a different destination entirely. Speaking to FourFourTwo, he recalled the moment his future was decided: "The day I found out that Manchester City wanted to sign me, I was at the 2011 Copa America with Argentina. I'd been with Atletico Madrid for five years, and my agent Hernan Reguera called me to say that City were very interested."

He acknowledged that Juventus were also firmly in the picture. "They were also very interested and were close to finalising a deal — at that time, they were preparing to part ways with Alessandro Del Piero," Aguero confirmed.

Yet the Italian giants never truly stood a chance. Aguero had grown up admiring the Premier League and one of its most iconic figures. "Michael Owen was an idol of mine, I looked up to him, and I had a dream to play in the Premier League," he said. "When Manchester City approached me, my decision was made, because I'd always liked the English league."

A decision that defined a legacy

That choice proved to be one of the most consequential in the history of English football. Over the following decade, Aguero became Manchester City's all-time leading scorer and played a central role in five Premier League title victories. The striker who turned down a chance to replace a Juventus legend instead became a legend himself — at the Etihad.