Mercato: staying or leaving Arsenal, a "very difficult choice" for Aubameyang

Text by: Nicolas Bamba Follow

At almost 31, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is at a "turning point" in his career, as he told Telefoot on Sunday June 14. The Gabonese contract at Arsenal ends in a year, and his future is uncertain. The striker has not yet decided between staying with the Gunners or trying a new challenge.

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The wait is coming to an end. Wednesday, June 17, the English Premier League will return, 100 days after its interruption due to the coronavirus pandemic . A few hours before his 31st birthday, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be on the lawn of Manchester City to challenge the outgoing champion with Arsenal.

Manchester City-Arsenal is an English championship classic, but the two clubs are not boxing in the same category this season yet. The Cityzens are certainly on the verge of losing their title to Liverpool, but they still occupy 2nd place, while Arsenal vegetates to a sad 9th place.

At this rate, Londoners risk not competing in any European cup next season. A significant parameter at a time when the future of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang raises many questions.

" Leaders have the key "

Recruited in January 2018 at Borussia Dortmund for 63 million euros, the Gabonese is in a delicate contractual situation. His lease with Arsenal runs until June 2021. This means that the club must extend or transfer it this summer, because if Aubameyang does not initial a new contract and does not leave during the next transfer window, then he can join a new one team next year without the Gunners getting a dime. A luxury that no manager can afford in these times made difficult by the coronavirus crisis.

Interviewed in the Téléfoot program , the attacker did not hide the questions related to his future. He admitted to having exchanged with Arsenal on this subject in recent months but to have "  not received a proposal recently  ". According to the man who became captain of the Gunners this season , the ball is in the court of the leaders: “  They know very well why, so far, nothing has happened. They have the key. It's up to them to do their job, and then we'll see how it goes.  "

"Arsenal have the keys to my extension. It will surely be the most important choice of my career, but for the moment nothing is decided"

His situation, the resumption of the PL, his relationship with Lacazette, his memories of ASSE: @ Aubameyang7 confided in exclusion to @Yassin_YN pic.twitter.com/Xf0K0KyHxI

" Perhaps the most important choice of my career"

After Italy with AC Milan (where he completed his training but never played pro), France with Dijon, Lille, Monaco and Saint-Etienne, Germany with Borussia Dortmund and therefore the England with Arsenal, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will he discover another country? Rumors about it have piled up in recent months. We send him to Spain (FC Barcelona, ​​Real Madrid). We also lend Manchester United a desire to attach its services.

Nothing genuinely concrete at the moment, but a striker of this caliber who only has one contract year left, that attracts interested glances. The Gabonese international (64 caps and 25 goals with the Panthers) knew himself at a crucial moment: “  It was a turning point in my career. I want to be very frank with everyone: it will necessarily be a very difficult choice to make. Be careful, I still haven't chosen. We'll see. It will perhaps be the most important choice of my career.  "

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Aubameyang wants to win titles

The prospect of playing a European Cup next season will count. Just like the possibility of garnishing a list that is still a little light. After 12 professional seasons, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has won only one French League Cup (in 2013 with Saint-Etienne) and one German Cup (in 2017 with Borussia Dortmund). In two and a half seasons with Arsenal, he was only a finalist in the League Cup (defeat in 2018 against Manchester City) and the Europa League (defeat in 2019 against Chelsea).

“  Any player who is a competitor dreams of winning titles. Everyone will ask the question: does he want to win them at Arsenal or somewhere else? The future will tell. The club in hand,  ”says the African Player of the Year for 2015 . If "  nothing is decided  ", the attacker "  wants to win titles, everyone knows  ". "  Whatever my choice, I intend to fight to win titles,  " he concludes.

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