The Gabonese striker has revealed that personal problems at Barcelona and his desperate need for a fresh start pushed him to join the London club, a decision he deeply regrets today.
Aubameyang’s controversial failure at Chelsea
Aubameyang’s controversial move from Barcelona to Chelsea in September 2022 was supposed to be a reunion with his former Borussia Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel. Instead, it turned into a nightmare that lasted less than a season. The striker joined the London club for around £10 million just six days before Tuchel’s dismissal, finding himself isolated in a team and system that completely did not suit his strengths.
Aubameyang arrived at Stamford Bridge with high hopes, but his time at Chelsea quickly turned into a fiasco, marked by managerial instability and a lack of confidence from successive managers. The Gabon international has scored just three goals in 21 appearances in all competitions, including just one in the Premier League. In February, Graham Potter left him out of the Champions League squad, marking his descent into hell.
The former Arsenal captain’s disastrous spell ended quietly in the summer of 2023 when he joined Marseille on a free transfer. Now, more than two years later, Aubameyang has opened up about his regrets over his unfortunate decision to join Chelsea, a decision he believes was dictated by circumstances rather than ambition.
Aubameyang reveals reasons for Chelsea move
Speaking frankly about his arrival at Chelsea, Aubameyang told Canal+ : “It was a big mistake to go there. A big fucking mistake. »
He explained the circumstances of his transfer: “ At that time I was going through a difficult time in Barcelona. I was robbed and Barca had to sell a player – me or Memphis Depay – and the only option available was Chelsea. So I said, ‘Okay, for my family I’m going to leave, even if it’s for Chelsea…’
Aubameyang added that he thought this transfer could be similar to Olivier Giroud’s successful transfer, but he quickly realized that would not be the case: “ I thought maybe it would go well, Olivier Giroud went from Arsenal to Chelsea without any problem, but for me it was different. »
