The arrhythmia that forced him to hang up his boots has caused the Argentinian to be in conflict with Barça.

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Kun Agüero claims 3 million from Barça after retiring due to heart problems

El Kun Agüero is still in the news, but this time it's not for goals or exploits on the pitch. The former Argentine striker has started a legal battle against FC Barcelona in which he is claiming three million euros, corresponding to the first year of his contract with the club. The problem lies in the non-payment of wages for the first season, in which the Argentinian played five games before retiring due to health problems.

Agüero landed at Camp Nou in 2021 as one of Barcelona's star signings. After shining for years at Manchester City, the Argentinian arrived with the illusion of bringing his experience and quality to the Culé team. However, the story did not turn out as expected. First, a calf injury sidelined him for two months. And when he finally returned, a heart arrhythmia forced him to quit football for good.

The key moment came in a match against Alavés, when Agüero had to leave the field after suffering a ventricular arrhythmia. After undergoing medical tests, the doctors were categorical: he had to hang up his boots. And so he did, announcing his retirement at an emotional press conference in December 2021.

Agüero had signed for two seasons, but only played five games and scored one goal (against Real Madrid, no less). Following medical advice to retire, Kun decided to forgo the salary for the second year of his contract, but demanded full payment for the first year, which he had started to play. Barça, for their part, agreed that the insurance would take over the payment of the three million.

But that's where the problems began. The insurance company refused to pay, claiming that the arrhythmia suffered by the Argentinian was not a new incident, but a pre-existing condition. According to the insurer, Agüero had already had heart problems before signing for Barça, which would exempt the insurance company from paying.

Arrhythmia: a problem from the past

Agüero's case is not new to doctors. The Argentinian had already had an episode of arrhythmia when he was young, something he himself acknowledged years later. In fact, Kun himself commented in an interview that, ten days before the match against Alavés, he had already felt a small arrhythmia in a training session, although he did not give it much importance. ‘My heart warned me beforehand. Ten days before, I had a very short arrhythmia’, he explained at the time. Despite this warning, Agüero continued to play until, in the match against the Basques, his body said enough was enough.

However, the player's entourage insist that the arrhythmia he suffered at Barcelona was different to that of previous years and that, furthermore, he passed all the medical examinations prior to his signing without any problems. In fact, Agüero played in the Champions League final with Manchester City a few months before arriving in Barcelona, proving that he was in top condition at the time.

The lawsuit and possible settlement

Since the insurance company did not want to pay, Barça was left in an awkward situation. Agüero, after waiting a reasonable time, decided to take legal action against the club. According to Barça's annual accounts, the Argentinian filed a conciliation claim last May, demanding the three million he believes the club owes him.

Although both parties tried to resolve the dispute through the Centre for Mediation, Conciliation and Arbitration, they were unable to reach an agreement. The conciliation process, held in June, ended without success, which has taken the case to the Social Court, where it will be determined whether Barça must pay the former striker that amount.

A settlement in sight?

Despite taking legal action, Kun Agüero does not want to damage his relationship with the club. Sources close to the player have indicated that he would be willing to reach an out-of-court agreement with Barça, even accepting an instalment payment if that makes things easier. The Argentinian's intention is to resolve the matter discreetly and without controversy, something that the Barça board is also looking for.

For the moment, the case is still in the hands of the courts, but everything suggests that both parties could reach an amicable solution in the coming months. In the meantime, Agüero continues to be linked to the world of football from off the pitch, where his charisma and talent are still present, although now in other roles.