Aubameyang to Chelsea: Xavi's stance on the transfer revealed
FT Desk
- Updated: 5 Aug 2022 02:08 CDT
- 3 min read
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been linked with a move to Chelsea from Barcelona. What does Catalan coach Xavi think of such a transfer?
The move would seem to make sense from the outside. Chelsea need a striker and Aubemeyang knows London well after his four years with Arsenal; while Barcelona need to balance their books and have signed a headline-grabbing striker in Robert Lewandowski.
But it would appear that Xavi has no intention of letting Aubameyang leave unless an astronomical bid came in for the 33-year-old Gabon captain.
Have Chelsea found a short-term solution to their long-term striker issue? 🤔https://t.co/KaCCBmRhlK
— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) August 4, 2022
"Barca will not negotiate the exit of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and it's not true that he has been put on a list of players being offered to Chelsea as is being speculated in England," write Catalan daily, Sport.
"For the coach, Xavi, the forward is absolutely untransferable, and the sporting directors think the same."
Aubameyang prolific
Aubameyang was Barca's 13-goal top scorer in all competitions last season despite only arriving in the winter transfer window, and Xavi believes there are more goals to come from the player, who already had family living in the Barcelona area before his arrival.
It is worth remembering that Aubameyang and Lewandowski played together for Borussia Dortmund, spending a productive season together in their attack in 2013/14. Auba is also happy to drift out wide, which is perfectly compatible with Xavi's preferred 4-3-3 system.
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Fellow attacker Memphis Depay's future at Camp Nou is less clear, however. The Dutchman - who outscored Aubameyang in La Liga alone with 12 goals to the Gabonese's 11 - is set to leave in search of more regular first-team minutes, with Juventus currently at the front of the queue for his signature.
Aubameyang has scored twice in pre-season, against Olot and Inter Miami, and could yet get the nod in attack when they open their La Liga campaign at home to Rayo Vallecano on 13 August.
