Barcelona striker Sergio Aguero has explained why he rejected the chance to take the No. 10 jersey at the Catalan club that was previously worn by Lionel Messi.
Following Messi's shock departure from the Blaugrana, many wondered who would inherit the 34-year-old's iconic jersey number.
The Argentine was handed the No. 10 shirt following Ronaldinho's exit from Barcelona in 2008, and, in it, became arguably the greatest player in the club's long history.
It was reported early last month that Philippe Coutinho and Aguero had turned down the opportunity to don the number in Messi's absence, and the latter has now explained where he was coming from.
"Refusing to wear the No. 10 shirt at Barcelona? It wasn't that I didn't want to, but it was out of respect for Messi," Aguero said during an interview on streaming service Twitch, according to the Daily Mirror.
The former Manchester City forward will instead wear No. 19, which, coincidentally, is another one of Messi's former numbers at the Spanish giants.
Teenage sensation Ansu Fati, meanwhile, was officially handed Messi's former shirt number last week.
