The night of August 28, 2022 and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is at dwelling in Barcelona, enjoying video video games and ready for information as talks proceed a few potential switch to Chelsea.
Aubameyang is relaxed — content material to remain in Spain or assist ease Barcelona’s monetary worries by returning to England, the place he flourished for Arsenal earlier than leaving considerably acrimoniously.
It is a footballer who began at Milan and in addition counts Borussia Dortmund among the many sides he has represented in a 16-year profession that includes greater than 300 senior objectives and switch charges totalling round $100million (£81m). The potential for one other transfer for Aubameyang, spouse Alysha and their younger kids, Curtys and Pierre, is nothing irregular. All of a sudden, nonetheless, the relative calm turns into chaos.
“My eldest son got here operating and mentioned to me, ‘Dad, some guys are in the home’,” says Aubameyang. “I mentioned, ‘Simply cover’.
“They got here in from exterior, the place my spouse was smoking with my cousin and her boyfriend. They took him (the cousin’s boyfriend) and got here into the home. My spouse was screaming. They’d a gun.”
Aubameyang says he “grabbed an enormous bottle” and went upstairs to attempt to confront the intruders.
“On the similar time, my sister-in-law was there with our baby,” he continues. “I mentioned to her, too, ‘Simply go. Attempt to cover someplace’. That is after I noticed the blokes. There have been 4 or 5, I believe.
“One had the gun and mentioned to me, ‘Simply go down’. I mentioned, ‘No, no, no. Inform me what you need’. We talked and he mentioned, ‘Sit down’. I mentioned, ‘No’. That is when he began to punch me.”
Aubameyang describes a person in gloves containing metallic touchdown a number of blows that broke his jaw. “I wished to combat however one man went down and took my youngsters and sister-in-law,” he says. “At that time, I couldn’t do something. For those who do one thing unsuitable, one thing can occur to them. We went by way of the home and I gave them what they wished, so we might be OK.”
Barcelona had solely simply organised for safety employees to start work that week, but the delayed arrival of out of doors bathrooms impacted their begin date. The implications weighed closely. Stolen jewelry, watches and different costly gadgets have been one factor; the psychological injury was fairly one other.
“If I used to be alone, no drawback,” Aubameyang insists. “I can deal with it, as mentally I’ve been ready for all the pieces in life, due to my dad and mom. However when you have got a spouse and children, it’s completely different.
“After that, the children instructed me, ‘Papa, I don’t wish to go to high school, I’m scared one thing goes to occur there’. For a yr my baby mentioned, ‘I can’t sleep alone’. It was an enormous battle. You’ve it at all times within the thoughts.”
Aubameyang and his household quickly left Barcelona as he moved to Stamford Bridge days later and the next July he joined French membership Marseille, although the trauma remained.
“I used to be at all times fascinated by this,” he says. “I did so many nights like this: not sleeping in any respect, simply fascinated by that s**t. You’ve some nightmares. I’m a man who, if I’m not sleeping effectively, I’m not going to present (a soccer staff) what you count on from me, I’m not going to be at my greatest… Each time the children are alone, they’re scared.
“I nonetheless have that home, however haven’t gone again since. I believe I’ll begin to lease it as a result of my youngsters don’t wish to go to Barcelona. Their college organised a visit there — they mentioned, ‘No probability I’m going’.
“I made a mistake not speaking to anybody. If I had somebody to speak to, a therapist or psychologist, perhaps it may have helped. However I didn’t wish to do something. To inform you the reality, I used to be misplaced.”
That’s the reason Aubameyang cites “security” as a vital purpose behind signing with Al Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia final July, a commerce which may have been interpreted for the now 35-year-old as a profitable cease en path to retirement. Aubameyang dismisses such a notion as “bulls**t” and urges individuals to pattern the Saudi Professional League for themselves earlier than formulating judgements.
The Athletic went to see Aubameyang within the Gulf state in late November, watching him prepare at Al Qadsiah’s multi-sport facility within the jap coastal metropolis of Khobar after which play the 90 minutes as they beat locals rivals Al Khaleej at their Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium 24 hours later.
The next day, we met at a resort throughout the border in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, to conduct a wide-ranging interview during which the Gabon worldwide mentioned:
- Life in Saudi Arabia, competing in its Professional League, ambitions and criticisms
- His contract “mistake” at Arsenal and Mikel Arteta’s “knife within the again” accusation
- How Barcelona was the “greatest reminiscence of my profession”, regardless of his complicated exit
- “Disrespectful” therapy and failure to attach throughout Chelsea “chaos”
- “Loopy” Marseille stint and enjoying with “anger” after his time in West London
- Taking appearing classes to fulfil “desires” of turning into a movie star post-football.
Given an opportunity to depart Marseille after just one season, Aubameyang’s favoured vacation spot final summer time was at all times Saudi Arabia, and his household have skilled “no problem” settling in.
“Individuals suppose it’s a closed nation with arduous restrictions,” he says. “That’s the opinion over there (within the West), however whenever you come right here, it’s completely completely different. The mentality may be very open-minded.”
He identifies “room for enchancment” within the ranges of play and professionalism whereas admitting that small crowds at some fixtures are “a part of the method” and that the Gulf state’s scorching climate can hurt match tempo.
Al Qadsiah have been taken over in June 2023 by Saudi-owned oil big Aramco and are scheduled to trade an ageing 20,000-seat floor for a contemporary 47,000-capacity enviornment, which is because of open in time for the 2027 Asian Cup and be a 2034 males’s World Cup venue.
Al Qadsiah, in purple, play Al Khaleej (The Athletic)
Internet hosting the game’s main occasion has raised many questions for Saudi Arabia to reply — most notably concerning human rights and particularly the therapy of migrant employees, ladies and the LGBTQ+ neighborhood.
Did Aubameyang ponder these points when pondering his choice? “By no means,” he says. “I’m actually into soccer and, whereas I’m a participant, I will probably be pondering nearly soccer — that’s it. After I retire, perhaps I’ll take into consideration various things. However after I selected to return, I didn’t give it some thought.”
How does he suppose LGBTQ+ supporters will react to that reply?
“I can perceive how they see life. They’ll have their opinion, however I even have mine. My alternative is just about soccer, not political conditions and all the pieces… I didn’t see something that shocked me to say it was a mistake coming right here.”
“I used to be certain it wasn’t going to occur. You’ve till midnight after which the market shuts. It was already 8pm and it’s important to do a medical and all the pieces. Round 8.30pm, my father mentioned, ‘Let’s go to the hospital’. I used to be like, ‘Oh my god! Loopy!’. They discovered a method to get me out of the jail.’”
The jail reference is delivered in jest, however Aubameyang will always remember the drama that accompanied switch deadline day in February 2022, nor dropping the Arsenal captaincy and the weeks spent coaching by himself earlier than lastly becoming a member of Barcelona on a free on the finish of that winter window.
Amazon’s All Or Nothing sequence about Arsenal charts the saga and whereas Aubameyang challenges parts in its portrayal of him — he denies flying to Spain with out permission, for instance — he doesn’t dispute travelling there earlier than the 2 golf equipment had agreed a deal. “I wished to push it, I simply wished to go,” he says.
He had been banished for his “newest disciplinary breach” in December 2021, in response to Arsenal: Aubameyang had returned late after a sanctioned journey to gather his unwell mom from France. For supervisor Mikel Arteta, it was the ultimate straw.
Aubameyang argues that he fell foul of advanced and ever-changing Covid-19 pandemic protocols on the time, which meant he was prohibited from coming into the membership’s coaching floor when he did.
GO DEEPER
The within story of the way it fell aside for Aubameyang at Arsenal
“My mistake,” he concedes. “I ought to have come again the evening earlier than, however I arrived within the morning. I didn’t inform them that I’d miss the flight as a result of I used to be preoccupied with my mum’s stuff (medical examinations).
“I went on to a staff assembly. Every part was regular. After that, he (Arteta) mentioned, ‘Include me’. That is the place he began shouting. He mentioned I couldn’t do that as a result of I used to be the captain and it was not acceptable.
“He mentioned I gave him a knife in his again; I don’t know why he mentioned that. I used to be actually p**sed off as a result of it was not true and he knew why I flew. He knew the explanation and what was occurring, he knew I used to be struggling that yr. I used to be anticipating assist from him, not killing me like this.”
May the battle have been solved by Aubameyang apologising?
“After I’m late, (and) it’s my fault — no drawback. I at all times mentioned sorry,” he says. “However on this case, I’ll by no means express regret. For taking my mum from Laval (his hometown in France) to London? No. Even when I got here a day late, I’d by no means express regret. You perceive otherwise you don’t. If not, don’t give a time off or inform individuals they can’t fly.”
Arteta claims to have saved a file of Aubameyang’s alleged indiscretions, which centred on punctuality. The participant doesn’t contest this however queries why some Arsenal team-mates have been handled extra leniently for comparable offences. He’s adamant Arteta may have handled all of it otherwise.
Infamously, Aubameyang was late to assemble for the March 2021 north London derby at dwelling towards Tottenham and obtained excluded from the matchday squad — a transfer that diminished belief between him and Arteta.
Aubameyang (prime) watches the north London derby from the stands in March 2021 (Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside by way of Getty Photographs)
“You allow the automotive on the stadium, then take the bus to the resort,” says Aubameyang. “I didn’t miss the bus, they have been ready for me. There was a (site visitors) accident close to my dwelling; perhaps I ought to have set off earlier, however you don’t know what’s going to occur. He was p***ed off because it’s an enormous sport.
“Once we obtained to the resort, he known as me to his room and mentioned I wasn’t going to play. He was strict. The principles are the foundations. I felt damage. I had tears as a result of I wished to play that sport, badly. I didn’t wish to damage anyone. The following day we had a gathering and I stood up in entrance of everybody to express regret. He additionally got here to my home to talk, as a result of he didn’t need this to be chaos.
“I mentioned, ‘It’s going to be OK’. However from then it was not the identical.”
Aubameyang then contracted malaria on worldwide responsibility. By the point it was identified and handled, he had confronted Liverpool and Europa League opponents Slavia Prague with the debilitating tropical virus in his physique. On the similar time, Aubameyang continued to navigate the repercussions of his mom struggling a stroke in late 2020.
He was “misplaced” and “depressed”, he says — a far cry from the euphoria which had greeted the attacker ending doubts over his future by signing a brand new contract a few months beforehand.
Arsenal have been on the street to their FA Cup semi-final with Manchester Metropolis in July 2020.
“I used to be speaking on the bus with (fellow striker) Alexandre Lacazette,” says Aubameyang. “Each fan was saying, ‘Signal da ting!’. Laca requested me, ‘What are you going to do?’ I used to be like, ‘To inform you the reality, I actually don’t know’.”
He impressed wins over Metropolis after which Chelsea to raise the FA Cup at an empty Wembley through the pandemic. It stays Arteta’s solely main trophy for Arsenal.
Aubameyang and Arteta with the FA Cup in August 2020 (Catherine Ivill/Getty Photographs)
“If I’m being sincere, at the moment I wished to go,” says Aubameyang. “For me, it was time to discover a new problem. I did my time. It was very good, however I wanted to alter. It had been 4 years, I did nice and perhaps it was time to depart it like this, correct and clear, so individuals keep in mind me as a superb Arsenal participant. I felt I wanted to go as a result of if I stayed, one thing would go unsuitable.”
What altered that notion was a “very refreshing” assembly with Arteta. They mentioned the staff, gamers, the necessity to recruit, employees, strategies of working and extra. “He satisfied me,” Aubameyang provides. “He mentioned, ‘I believe you may depart a legacy’. I believe it was the primary time I heard this phrase in English.
“He mentioned, ‘For those who keep, you might be an icon, like the large names at Arsenal’. I began to alter my imaginative and prescient. He and the followers satisfied me to remain. However at first, I wished to depart. That is the place it obtained chaotic, as a result of whenever you go towards your coronary heart, perhaps that is the place I made my mistake.”
On the level of placing pen to paper, Aubameyang had lately turned 31 and anticipated belonging to Arsenal till hanging up his boots. Scoring 15 objectives in all competitions in 2020-2021 signalled he had lots left within the tank. But his private strife allowed the underlying sentiments to resurface.
“I felt it progressively,” he says. “Slowly, slowly, I used to be type of giving up. Generally there are issues extra vital than soccer. Possibly individuals don’t realise, as a result of they suppose soccer is an important factor. (However) that’s not true.”
Time and distance have enabled therapeutic and perspective.
Aubameyang obtained a “nice message” from Arteta after they parted methods and would now gladly have interaction in a dialog — “You can’t stick with that negativity”. He says he’ll “at all times love Arsenal, at all times love the supporters… even when I went to Chelsea” and hopes to have answered a few of their questions with this interview.
(Glyn Kirk/AFP by way of Getty Photographs)
He reckons Arteta’s facet are “lacking one thing” as they chase the silverware they “deserve” — specifically a “goalscoring machine”. So, who’re they lacking?
“Me,” he says, tongue in cheek.
In the summertime of 2022, Chelsea signed Aubameyang from Barcelona and he agreed a two-year contract, “100 per cent” to be reunited together with his former Dortmund supervisor, Thomas Tuchel.
Aubameyang had cherished his four-month spell at Camp Nou — the place his phrases ought to have saved him by way of to 2025 — and says it provokes “solely good recollections, the perfect of my profession”. However he “wanted” to “really feel love once more” after Arsenal and show he was nonetheless a “good participant and individual”.
If Tuchel had not been at Chelsea, there may be “no probability” Aubameyang would have left Barcelona, he says. However, inside per week of his switch, the German misplaced his job. It adopted a Champions League defeat at Dinamo Zagreb, a match the place Aubameyang — donning a masks to guard his injured face following the theft at his home — made a depressing debut.
Aubameyang in his protecting masks (Slavko Midzor/Pixsell/MB Media/Getty Photographs)
He “went towards physician’s recommendation” and explains, “Once you arrive someplace (new), you wish to present right away you’re concerned. It was the worst sport of my life, however I did it as a result of I needed to play.
“I do not forget that day as a result of I didn’t recognise him (Tuchel). It was not the man I knew a couple of years in the past. We had an in depth relationship. He was the one man who actually understood me in Dortmund. At Chelsea, it was like one thing was unsuitable. I felt he was not having fun with his time.
“We misplaced (1-0) and he was p**sed off. Often, he would go loopy however he got here to the dressing room after which left. I used to be like, ‘This isn’t the man I do know. Very unusual’. The following day, he was sacked.”
Graham Potter was employed away from Brighton and the October introduced three objectives for Aubameyang in as many outings. However after a house humbling by Arsenal, he barely featured. As Chelsea toiled, he implored Potter to “put me in” however “revered” the Englishman’s honesty about preferring to make use of Kai Havertz.
Issues obtained worse the next February, with Aubameyang omitted from the Champions League squad and deemed surplus to necessities. “That’s after I began to say, ‘OK, that is very disrespectful’,” he states. “They tried to ship me on mortgage to America. I mentioned: ‘No probability’.
“I felt p***ed off. From that time, I mentioned, ‘The season is completed for me already’. I simply went to coaching to take care of health; I knew I used to be not going to play.”
Potter was dismissed within the April and Frank Lampard stepped in briefly.
“He (Lampard) instructed me, ‘OK, I would like you. I wish to know the way you’re feeling, if you’re able to play once more’,” Aubameyang remembers. “I used to be like, ‘Sure. I’m ready for this’.”
“Near the tip of the season, he spoke to me once more and mentioned, ‘What are your emotions? I’m sorry, Auba. I can’t actually make it easier to’. I understood it’s not coming from him however upstairs.”
Coaching at Chelsea in April 2023 (Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC by way of Getty Photographs)
Aubameyang discovered himself within the ‘bomb squad’ because the group at Chelsea saved increasing, pushing numerous famend figures to the fringes.
“They did a multitude,” he says. “It didn’t even appear like a soccer dressing room, it was extra like rugby. Hakim Ziyech, Denis Zakaria, Kalidou Koulibaly, Romelu Lukaku… It was good I wasn’t alone. We have been laughing each day, so it was OK.”
There isn’t a lingering bitterness, although, and Aubameyang praises Chelsea for a way they seem to have regained stability and competitiveness. He feels a “large striker” ought to be sought to shoulder the objectives burden “like Didier Drogba did up to now” and acknowledges he was unable to suit that exact invoice.
“I by no means had that connection,” Aubameyang says. “No connections in any respect. The followers wished the Auba they noticed with Arsenal. On the time, I used to be not prepared for that and didn’t get the chance. I used to be not prepared, as effectively, due to what occurred in Barcelona. It was a chaotic yr but it surely was good for me as a result of I wanted a break and, on the similar time, they didn’t wish to play me.”
He signed a three-year cope with Marseille in July 2023 and arrived in France, the place he was born and grew up, with some extent to show.
“I took an image at a Chelsea sport after I was not within the squad,” he says. “I mentioned, ‘We’ll see subsequent season if I’m a fan or participant’. I arrived in Marseille with the mentality, ‘You’ll see the actual Aubameyang.’”
After simply 5 objectives in his first 17 video games, Aubameyang’s substitution in direction of the tip of a 0-0 draw towards Lille within the November drew anger from the terraces. It flicked a change. “I used to be like, ‘I can’t settle for that’,” he displays. “‘Now I’ll change the best way I play. I’m going to be extra loopy’. I performed with anger.”
Within the subsequent dwelling match, versus Ajax within the Europa League, Aubameyang registered a hat-trick, and he ended his sole season again in French soccer with 30 objectives in 51 appearances.
“This was the yr I confirmed everyone who I’m,” he says.
Marseille’s seek for a brand new everlasting coach produced Roberto de Zerbi and regardless of not gaining a chance to carry out for the Italian as Saudi loomed, Aubameyang did worth the window during which their paths crossed.
He seen “within the first two coaching classes” that De Zerbi was “completely different”. Aubameyang has operated beneath Klopp, Wenger and Xavi however views De Zerbi “like Thomas Tuchel and Mikel Arteta” when it comes to calibre.
“Very excessive,” is the place Aubameyang forecasts the 45-year-old managing. “He has devoted his complete life to soccer. He at all times desires the perfect for the staff and has correct concepts. Generally individuals aren’t affected person however this time Marseille need to be as a result of he can actually put them again to the highest.”
Now Aubameyang is concentrated on shining in Saudi Arabia. He spurned curiosity from higher-profile suitors to decide on newly-promoted Al Qadsiah and, beneath the steering of sporting director Carlos Anton, coach Michel — who changed Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler — and ex-Rangers chief govt James Bisgrove, they’re flying.
A six-game profitable streak secured third spot within the SPL heading into its winter break — under solely Benzema’s Al Ittihad and Neymar’s Al Hilal, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr fourth. Aubameyang’s report to date stands at seven objectives throughout 14 appearances in all competitions. “They wish to be the perfect and I may also help them develop,” he says.
Aubameyang additionally has ambitions with Gabon, who’ve certified for the Africa Cup of Nations on the finish of this yr and are in rivalry to achieve their maiden World Cup finals look the next summer time.
Additional down the road, he prefers the considered membership possession or, maybe, a sporting director-type place fairly than teaching. His motivations, although, transcend soccer: turning into an actor is one in every of his “desires” and he’s taking non-public classes to grasp the artwork.
“Comedy, for certain!” Aubameyang laughs whereas referring to his alternative of style. “For those who see me in a movie that’s too severe… nah, you’ll not consider it. If it’s comedy, sure, you’re going to consider it.”
(High images: Getty Photographs; design: Eamonn Dalton)