Manchester United favourite Rio Ferdinand names Man City icon as greatest South American player

Rio Ferdinand has named Sergio Aguero as the greatest South American player in Premier League history.

Born in Argentina, the now-retired striker signed for Manchester City from Atletico Madrid in 2011 and repaid his £36million transfer fee multiple times over with a club record 260 goals in 390 games. Aguero moved to Barcelona last summer, but was forced to hang up his boots months later due to a heart scare.

A stand-out for City during their trophy-laden stretch in the past decade or so, the Argentine won five Premier League titles in addition to six League Cup medals. He picked up the Premier League golden boot in 2014/2015 with 26 goals and sits fourth in the competition's all-time charts (184 goals) behind Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney and Andrew Cole.

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That comfortably makes Aguero the leading marksman from South American countries on these shores, but where does he rank when it comes to the greatest players from the continent? Others who come into that debate include Luis Suarez and Carlos Tevez, who played for Manchester United and City.

Promoting the latest episode of his FIVE podcast, Ferdinand put Aguero at number one. When posting a link to the discussion, he said: "No1 surely got to be @aguerosergiokun."

Aguero was heavily discussed by the panel — although that did not feature Ferdinand — while Alisson, Gilberto Silva, David Luiz, Antonio Valencia and departing City captain Fernandinho were also mentioned.

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