Before the new league season kicked off after the departure of Argentine star Lionel Messi, the Spanish club Barcelona said that his veteran Argentine striker Sergio Aguero would miss the stadiums for 10 weeks, adding further trouble to the Catalan team.

Aguero is reported to have a strong friendship with Messi, playing side by side in the Argentine electorate.

Last June, Aguero joined Barcelona on a free transfer deal coming from English Premier League champions Manchester City, with whom he continued for 10 years.

Barcelona said in a statement that Aguero (33 years old) was injured in the right leg, and that he would be absent from the stadiums for 10 weeks, which means that he will not start his career with the club before 17 October next when Barcelona play against his Valencia guest in the league.

Ahead of Barcelona's opening game of next Sunday's league season against Real Sociedad, Ronald Koeman, the Barcelona coach, is facing an offensive shortage, with only Martin Braithwaite, Antoine Griezmann and Memphis Depay now available.

Due to injuries in his last season with Manchester City, Aguero was mainly involved in only 7 league games.

After 21 years in the ranks yesterday, Messi announced his departure from the Catalan club after contract renewal negotiations failed, and admitted that he was in talks with Paris Saint-Germain.