‘I wish I could have stayed for more years’: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang expresses gratitude towards Barcelona

The Gabonese international striker, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, recently moved to the Saudi Pro League to join Al-Qadsiah in a €10 million transfer from Olympique Marseille, after spending only a single season in France. 

Last season, the 35-year-old enjoyed a standout 2023-24 campaign, racking up 30 goals and 11 assists in a total of 51 appearances across all competitions. Moreover, he also clinched the all-time top scorer in the UEFA Europa League crown with a 31-goal tally. 

After his working relationship with Mikel Arteta broke down, the former Arsenal man had an eight-month stint at Camp Nou. He joined the Blaugrana in January 2022 on a three-year deal from North London. However, the striker could only manage 23 appearances and scored 13 goals swiftly, winning the Barca supporters’ hearts. 

He revealed in an interview, that the extent of his transfer to the Catalan giants helped him during the challenging phase in his personal life. The Gabonese player expressed gratitude for the opportunity to play for the La Liga giants and cherished his time in Barcelona. 

“Before signing for Barça,” said Aubameyang “I was in depression due to my parents’ health and started drinking a lot. Barça gave me a chance, and I’ll always be grateful,”

He added, “I’ve never enjoyed playing football and going to training so much. I even went to train with the team on off days; that should tell you a lot. It was incredible. I wish I could have stayed for more years.” 

In the summer of 2022, Aubameyang left the Spanish club to mark his return to the Premier League to join Chelsea, but he failed to make much impact with the Blues, scoring just three goals in 21 appearances.