Pierre Emerick Aubameyang
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has candidly expressed his regret over his short-lived stint at Chelsea, following his transfer from Barcelona in the summer of 2022. The striker, who previously enjoyed a successful career at Arsenal, admitted that his move to Stamford Bridge was a mistake. During his brief tenure at Chelsea, Aubameyang made 21 appearances, scoring three goals and providing one assist, before leaving the club after less than a year.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang said: “That was a big mistake going there. It was a f****** big mistake. At that time, I had a bad moment in Barcelona. I had a home break-in and Barca needed to sell a player – me or Memphis Depay – and the only thing that was on the table was Chelsea. So I said, ‘OK, for my family, I will move away, even if it’s Chelsea.’ I was thinking maybe it will be OK, Olivier Giroud went from Arsenal to Chelsea and he had no problems, but for me it was different.”
Aubameyang’s time at Chelsea was marred by personal challenges, including a traumatic incident where he was attacked during a home invasion, resulting in a broken jaw. This incident forced him to play with a protective mask during his initial games for Chelsea. Despite his past success at Arsenal, where he scored 92 goals in 163 appearances, Aubameyang struggled to replicate that form at Stamford Bridge.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang further explained: “I never had that connection. No connections at all. The fans wanted the Auba they saw with Arsenal. At the time, I was not ready for that and didn’t get the opportunity. I was not ready, as well, because of what happened in Barcelona.”
Currently, Aubameyang has found a new lease on life in Ligue 1, where he has scored five goals and provided six assists in 14 appearances across domestic and Champions League competitions. His reflections on his Chelsea experience highlight the challenges players face when transitioning between clubs, especially under difficult personal circumstances. Aubameyang’s honesty about his regrets offers a rare glimpse into the personal struggles that can accompany high-profile transfers.
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