Bundesliga: Aubameyang Not Limiting Himself To Real Madrid
Recent reports stated that Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will only leave the Bundesliga if signed by Real Madrid, however the player has jumped to deny that.
The media is pretty good, this time of year, of sending out conflicting messages and fanning the flames of uncertainty amongst all-too-emotionally-invested football fans. In the case of Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, however, he seems to be doing a fairly good job of it all on his own.
We talked just yesterday of reports from German TV channel ZDF that Aubameyang was sticking with BvB and would only leave if Real Madrid came knocking. The same story we’d heard before, that Aubameyang had made a promise to his La Liga loving grandfather on his deathbed that he would some day play for Los Blancos, and this is his primary motivation in the game today.
What was new however, was the idea that this would actually prohibit the Gabon International from signing with any other club in the interim.
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Case closed, or was it? Just today Aubameyang himself took to Instagram and Twitter to accuse ZDF, and other media who quoted them, of “transforming his words”. In English none the less. For those who haven’t read it, here’s the full quote (sic):
"“Hello journalist’sJust to be clear!!! i can read everywhere something that i never said “only Real Madrid can take me from dortmund” i don’t Know who transform my words but im sad that people do like they want. i’m player from Borussia Dortmund and in any interviews i was honest with you to say that it was my dream since im young but not more. ThanksP-E Aubameyang”"
Well I never said it was good English. Regardless this is an interesting development that should give BvB pause for thought. Aubameyang, targeted primarily by Manchester City this summer, was originally linked to a move due to the exodus of several key star players from the Westfalenstadion. Ilkay Gundogan, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Matts Hummels all were sold causing much confusion over Dortmund’s ability to contend in the upcoming Bundesliga season.
Nonetheless, it’s fair to say BvB have recovered and then some, bringing in some very talented signings at compeditive prices, it’s hard not to see them being a force to contend with. For that though, Aubameyang is almost essential. His 28 goals and 5 assists in 32 appearances last year put him in the elite for strikers in the game and in today’s market he would prove to be irreplaceable.
Even so, it seems Aubameyang realises that if Real Madrid doesn’t work this year, that could be it. Aubameyang is 27 and, with Madrid’s ban on transfers for two full seasons, he would be touching 30 before he could get another look in.
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That’s not old, but it’s certainly enough to put off many big teams, Real included. With that being the case, one has to wonder if maybe he hasn’t re-evaluated his future and left the door open to a move elsewhere for that reason?
Certainly Aubameyang can and should be earning more money and perhaps raising his profile further with another club. Real Madrid may be his dream, I’m sure many players would feel the same deep down, but it’s not always going to be realistic.
Assuming the lack of interest from the Bernabeu continues it’s unlikely, to say the least, that Pierre-Emerick will see his dream come to fruition. That being the case, it’s hard to imagine he would close the doors to a move elsewhere for the rest of his career.
His value may never be higher and his ability the same. A club with nigh-unlimited resources like City, with a manager who has been ogling Aubameyang for some time, could well soften the blow from missing out on Real. Perhaps not this summer, but in the future, who knows?
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I’m sure we’ve not heard the last of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and links to other clubs, indeed when we thought we had it lasted only half a day. Dortmund can only hope that so long as he remains with them he continues to provide the same prolific form that brought him to the world’s attention last year. In the meantime, if Aubameyang himself doesn’t send any more mixed signals, at least we can count on the media to continue to do so.