Phil Foden Reveals Why He Turned Down Sergio Aguero's Number 10 Shirt At Manchester City

Phil Foden has confirmed Sergio Aguero wanted to give him the number 10 shirt at Manchester City after he left the club.

Aguero parted ways with City last summer after a remarkable 10-year spell at the Etihad, during which time he won five Premier League titles and became the club’s record goal scorer.

He would join Barcelona on a free transfer ahead of this season but was forced to retire in December after being diagnosed with a heart problem.

Foden has revealed that Aguero offered him his shirt number when he left the club but the England international turned it down, keeping the unusual number of 47 instead.

"I did think about it,” Foden said.

"The 10 shirt is such a big number in the club, but I just have a thing with 47.

"I'd like to create my own legacy and keep that number." 

Manchester City would later give the number 10 shirt to Jack Grealish when he joined in a club record £100m move from Aston Villa in August.

Sergio Aguero wanted to give Phil Foden #ManCity's no.10 shirt when he left the club. Foden: "I did think about it, the 10 shirt is such a big number in the club, but I just have a thing with 47. I'd like to create my own legacy and keep that number."

[via @SkySportsPL]

— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) February 19, 2022

Speaking back in May ahead of Grealish’s move to the Etihad, Aguero said he hoped Foden would be given his number.

"I think the number 10 shirt should be given to Phil Foden," said the former Argentina international in a Twitch stream.

"Some say Kevin [De Bruyne]. The thing is, I believe Kevin used his number [17] at other clubs, so I don't think he would change it.

"That's why I think Phil Foden."

Meanwhile, Aguero has revealed that he could be set for a role with the Argentina national team ahead of the World Cup in Qatar later this year.

Aguero has held talks with Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni over a coaching position.

"I'm going to the World Cup in Qatar. We are going to have a meeting this week," he told Radio10.

"I want to be there. The idea is for me to be incorporated into the coaching staff, I spoke with [manager Lionel] Scaloni and [president Claudio] Tapia."