It was almost the sort of dream start he had imagined. A Camp Nou with unrestricted entry for fans. A brilliant Barcelona No 10 producing a stunning early goal, to add to the brilliant late goal he had scored in the previous home game. And a booming, affectionate chant of ‘Kuuun!’ around the ground for the new signing.
Sergio Aguero understood straight away on his Barca debut on Sunday that his new constituents are immediately on nickname terms. Here, he is ‘Kun’ Aguero more than he is ‘Sergio’, and although, at 33, he will not have time to develop the same deep, enduring relationship with supporters as he did through a transformative decade at Manchester City, he hopes there will be moments that write Kun’s name indelibly into Barcelona history.
Aguero’s three minutes off the bench in the 3-1 win against Valencia marked his full recuperation from a stubborn calf injury that prevented any competitive action since he came on in the late stages of the Champions League final in May, the last of his 390 appearances for City.
In the five months since, he has known excitement, beginning a new adventure in Catalonia; then shock, when he learnt Lionel Messi, one of the main drivers of his move, was to leave the Barca No 10 jersey and Camo Nou; and then the exasperation of sitting out injured while Barcelona lurched through limp Liga performances and plunged into a crisis in the Champions league.
Aguero’s role on Wednesday night will be much like his role in Porto in May, when City saw Chelsea dampening their Champions League ambitions in the final. Only the rescue mission now is to scrape his team off the bottom of a group. Barcelona take on Dynamo Kiev on the third matchday of a campaign that has so far yielded two 3-0 defeats, to Bayern Munich and Benfica, and not a single Barca shot on target.
“It’s a must-win. If we don’t win, we’ll be almost out,” said Aguero. “But we’re confident and we’ll have the help of the supporters to get the three points.”
He felt the confidence, along with 45,000-odd loyalists, on Sunday. Before they united to roar on Kun’s debut, they had gleefully celebrated the teenager now wearing Messi’s old jersey, Ansu Fati, who, like Aguero, has only recently come back from a long period of injury.
On his return in late September, Ansu scored after 10 minutes as a substitute. Against Valencia, his first start since sustaining ligament damage last year, he scored after 13 minutes.
Barcelona player ratings for 3-1 win over Valencia
-
BARCELONA RATINGS: Marc-Andre ter Stegen 7 - Beaten by a fifth minute Gaya rocket and kept busy by the lively Valencians. Top save from Guedes at the start of the second half. Beaten by a Soler shot after 53, too. His post wasn’t. Getty -
Sergio Roberto 6 - Busy opening for Mr Versatile who was played at right back in a 4-3-3 which shifted formation when Barca were not in possession. Getty -
Gerard Pique 6 - The unpredictable and enigmatic Guedes tested the 34-year-old, as did Soler’s runs, but Pique’s experience and meant his positioning was effective. AFP -
Eric Garcia 6 - Started in central defence in the first of three huge home games for Barca with a Champions League match against Kiev followed by a clasico next weekend. Spoke about others rather than himself after the game. Good team player. EPA -
Jordi Alba 7 - Dangerous cross towards Dest after nine minutes as Barca tried to equalise. No player came close to his 109 touches, which again showed how vital the 32 year old is – even without his old attacking foil Lionel Messi. EPA -
Frenkie de Jong 7 - In a better Barca team, he’d be more attacking but the Dutchman had to defend deep against a dangerous Valencia. Brilliant pass to release Dest. Reuters -
Sergio Busquets 7 - Booked for a late tackle on the influential Soler which drew a roar from the crowd. At least there were fans since Camp Nou was back to allowing 100% – though only 47,317 showed in the 99,000 capacity venue. Reuters -
Gavi 6 - Seventeen-year-old man of the moment played on the left. Heavy challenge on Soler after 20 minutes earned him a booking, but key in Barca having control and 60% of possession in a vital win. Getty -
Ansu Fati 8 - Back after a year long injury and equalised with a low curling shot after 13 – a superb goal. Wonderful. Fouled for a 39th minute penalty – which Valencia’s players disputed. Fans sang his name and want him back for more. He’s been missed. EPA -
Memphis 9 - Played centrally and set up strike partner Fati for the equaliser. Confident in build up play and hit a 29th minute free-kick so high it flew into the second tier. Struck a perfect 41st minute penalty to put his side ahead. Man of the match and exhausted by the end. Getty -
Sergino Dest 8 - More advanced role than normal on the right – as an attacker rather than defender, though he had to get back too. Set up Coutinho for the third – his key passes are vital. Becoming a bigger influence for the Catalans. Reuters -
SUBS: Phillippe Coutinho 7 - On for Fati after 59. The Brazilian scored the third after 85 minutes and looked absolutely delighted – as did his teammates. His team needed that goal, but not as much as the midfielder who has had the bumpiest ride since leaving Liverpool. Nobody had more than his three shots – and he was only on the pitch 33 minutes. EPA -
Oscar Mingueza 6 - On for Sergi Roberto after 71. The defender seldom starts and relations with coach Ronald Koeman could have been better, but he’s a big talent. AP -
Nico González - On for Gavi after 71, the 19-year-old midfielder is another youngster getting minutes from Koeman. The son of the former Deportivo La Coruna midfielder Fran did well. Reuters -
Sergio Aguero N/A - On for Dest – to a huge roar - for his first appearance in a Barca shirt. From signing for the Catalans until now wasn’t as he hoped it would be, but the Argentine can be a huge influence at a club short of players of his quality. Fans hoped for a goal, but three points will suffice. Reuters
Ansu, said Aguero, is to be treasured by Barcelona, who hope in the coming days to sign a new long-term contract with the prodigy. “He’s young and we’re here to help him keep growing and do our best to make him feel as comfortable as possible,” said Aguero. “We all see him in training. He’s not the sort of talent you see every day. We need to make the best of that, because he’s one of ours.”
As for Ansu’s assuming the No 10 jersey after Messi’s abrupt departure for Paris Saint-Germain, Aguero made it clear he had not stood in the way of the youngster’s claiming it. Aguero wore the number for City, but is happy with the 19 on his new Barca shirt.
“It was a decision I took when I signed because 19 is the number I wore at the under-20 World Cup [in 2005, when his Argentina won] and also in the full Argentina team. Leo had the 10 and when Gerard Pique and others at the club suggested I took it over, I had already asked for number 19. The 10 suits Ansu, and I'm very happy he has come back so strongly.”
As for the original, the greatest Barca No 10 of all time, Messi’s departure in late July was a “surprise,” admits Aguero. “That’s in the past now and it came as a surprise to all of us. But I prefer to think about the future. He’s happy, and as his friend I want that for him.”
Aguero is meanwhile impatient for his first Barcelona start, to become the leader of the attack of the post-Messi era. But he is reluctant to set a target for the number of goals he might register in his debut season for his new club.
“I never set specific targets except to finish a season in the best shape,” he said. “If that means goals, all the better. My aim is to be strong the whole of the rest of the season, score some goals if I can, and win a trophy.”
