Aubameyang wouldn't suit Barcelona says Xavi
Cameron Smith
- 31 Jan 2022 20:06 GMT
- 3 min read
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is in ongoing talks with Barcelona over a potential move to the club from Arsenal.
The Gabon international forward was stripped off the Gunners captaincy following a disciplinary breach in late 2021, and his career at The Emirates looks to be coming to an end.
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He is reportedly close to agreeing a deal with Barcelona, with the forward set to join Ferran Torres and Adama Traore in January additions.
Aubameyang's wage seems to be the biggest issue right now, although Barcelona are confident that a deal will go through.
However, his potential new head coach Xavi revealed back in 2020 that Aubameyang's style of play wouldn't suit Barcelona.
Xavi, who replaced Ronaldo Koeman in the Camp Nou dugout in November 2021, was manager of Al Sadd when he spoke out about Barcelona's issues at the time.
Aubameyang and Liverpool forward Sadio Mane have both been linked with moves to the club in the past, but Xavi was adamant they wouldn't fit in.
Back in 2020, The Mirror published quotes from Xavi about the kind of player Barcelona needed to sign. "Mane and Aubameyang can kill you in open space," Xavi said. "But Barcelona need players who know how to move in small spaces.
"I am thinking about players who would adapt to Barcelona and it’s not easy to find one. Samuel Eto’o was perfect as is Luis Suarez right now."
Over 18 months later, and Xavi finds himself as the head coach at Barcelona, and about to sign Aubameyang, despite his previous comments.
With the additions of Torres and Traore, as well as Aubameyang, Xavi could be turning away from 'The Barcelona Way' in order to simply get results.
Aubameyang has scored four Premier League goals this season, which would rank second in the Barcelona squad for league goals scored, behind only Memphis Depay's eight.
Barcelona currently sit fifth in the Spanish top flight, one point behind Atletico Madrid.
