Aubameyang: Why I lost money to join Barcelona
FT Desk
- 22 Feb 2022 10:30 GMT
- 3 min read
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has revealed why he agreed to take a pay cut in order to join Barcelona.
Aubameyang joined Barca on a free transfer in January from Arsenal, having been frozen out of the squad at the Emirates for disciplinary reasons.
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The 32-year-old had been the best-paid player at Arsenal on £350,000 per week but he agreed to reduce his salary to make the move to Barca.
What did Aubameyang say?
"I really wanted to go to Barca,” he told Mundo Deportivo.
"I gave up my salary because it is an opportunity that you have once in your life.
"We want to win the league and the Champions League here."
Many questioned the signing of the 32-year-old by the Blaugrana, especially after he failed to hit the back of the net in his first three appearances for his new club.
However, he broke his duck in style on Sunday during the 4-1 at Valencia.
Aubameyang broke the deadlock after 23 minutes with a lethal finish. He ran onto the end of Jordi Alba’s brilliant long pass before bending the ball into the top of the net at Giorgi Mamardashvili’s near post.
Aubameyang then scored his second goal on 38 minutes as he darted to the back post to tap home Gavi’s accurate cross.
Barcelona’s next match is on Thursday when they play the second leg of their Europa League tie against Napoli.
The two teams drew the first leg 1-1 at Camp Nou and Aubameyang is eager to advance.
"We are going to give everything and, personally, I am going to continue working as I have done since I arrived," he said.
"I want to win games and I want to win the Europa League, so if we want to win it, we have to win this game."
