Pierre-Émerick Aubameyang, back to the highest level
Pierre-Émerick Aubameyang after his goal against Osasuna, March 13, 2022. AFP - JOSEP LAGO
Text by: Farid Achache Follow
3 mins
After FC Barcelona's victory over Osasuna (4-0) on Sunday March 13, coach Xavi was rave about Pierre-Émerick Aubameyang.
Since leaving Arsenal during the last winter transfer window, the Gabonese international has regained his splendor with Barcelona.
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“
A superb gift fallen from the sky
”.
This is how Xavi, FC Barcelona coach qualifies the arrival of Pierre-Émerick Aubameyang.
More really in the odor of sanctity on the side of Arsenal, the Gabonese international forced his departure to Barcelona during the winter transfer window.
“
He quickly adapted to the needs of the team and the circumstances in which we find ourselves.
He finds openings in depth.
He can create chances, he scores goals, he works hard for the team.
He puts the central defenders and the goalkeeper to the test
, ”said the Barça coach on Sunday March 13 after the victory against Osasuna (4-1).
"
It's a privilege to lead him
"
On this occasion, Pierre-Émerick Aubameyang scored a new goal, his sixth in all competitions, after only nine matches played.
In the league, he has 5 goals in 6 matches and only Eto'o and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have done better than him with 5 goals in 5 matches.
In February against Valencia, Aubameyang scored his first hat-trick with the Catalans.
"
It's a privilege to coach him and we know he can give the team a lot of goals.
I am very happy for him individually, because he is an example to follow in training and for everyone in this team
”, also indicated Xavi.
“
I hope he continues to help us like this because he is a great player and having him in the squad after a free transfer is a gift.
He is working very well, he came here needing minutes, but he is getting them now
,” Sergio Busquets recently told Movistar +.
Under contract until June 2025, Aubameyang will celebrate his 33rd birthday next June.
And the selection?
Aubameyang led Arsenal to their most recent trophy, the 2020 FA Cup, by scoring twice in the semi-finals and final.
Since his three-year contract extension, which had made him one of the highest paid players in the Premier League, his statistics had collapsed.
From now on, here he is once again the scorer that everyone was waiting for on the side of Barcelona.
And the selection?
Asked by beIN Sports about his return to the national team, Pierre-Émerick Aubameyang recently revealed that "
for now, it's on
stand-by
".
During the last CAN in Cameroon, Aubameyang had not played.
Officially sent back to his club for "heart complications caused by a Covid-19 infection", Pierre-Émerick Aubameyang had been accused of having behaved badly with the selection.
“
It was a complicated period and I think it all came together in terms of complications for me.
For the moment, there is no match.
Then I think I'm going to take stock with my coach
(Patrice Neveu, editor's note)
and see what is most important and the right decision to make for the future
, ”he explained.
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