Sergio Aguero admits Liverpool admiration despite legendary Man City status

Sergio Aguero has confessed that he grew up as a fan of Liverpool despite his legendary status as a Manchester City striker.

The Argentine arrived in the Europe back in 2006 from boyhood club Independiente, joining Atletico Madrid before moving to Manchester five years later.

It's fair to say that Aguero enjoyed his time at the Etihad, scoring 184 goals in just 275 appearances, as well as being crowned a Premier League champion on five separate occasions.

After a very brief spell with Barcelona following his Man City departure, Aguero called time on his career after discovering he had cardiac arrhythmia - a heart problem that would have made it dangerous for him to continue playing.

Despite his playing days coming to a sad end, Aguero can look back on a phenomenal career - but could it have all been different?

Well, the retired star has admitted that he was a big fan of Liverpool growing up, inspired by a then youthful Michael Owen up front for the Reds.

"I used to like Liverpool when I was younger because of Owen, who had also started as a teenager. Even when I was playing on my Playstation, I tried to play like Owen!" Aguero told Stake (via Goal).

It's hardly surprising that Aguero wasn't a Man City fan growing up given the Abu Dhabi funds hadn't yet arrived in Manchester, with the striker understandably enamoured with the Reds and their exciting young forward Owen.

When quizzed about potentially joining Liverpool during his career, he stated: "I wouldn't know, really. I've read that they didn't go out for an offer because I was very young and it seemed like a risky bet for the transfer cost."

If Liverpool did pass up the opportunity to sign Aguero when at Independiente or Atletico Madrid, it was certainly an error, although few would have been able to predict the level of success he reached at the Etihad.

Speaking about the rivalry between Liverpool and Man City ahead of this weekend's gargantuan clash, the Argentine added: "In my 10 years at City, we've had amazing games with Liverpool. Even more so lately, fighting for the Premier League head-to-head. I've scored some important goals, but never got to score at Anfield, though."

For someone of Aguero's prowess, he didn't have a particularly glamorous record against Liverpool. The forward scored just seven in 22 appearances against the Reds for Man City and Atletico.