Real Madrid have reportedly turned down the chance to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, a target for arch-rivals Barcelona.
According to a report by Catalan outlet El Nacional, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been offered to the two biggest clubs in Spain – Barcelona and Real Madrid. However, the Merengues do not intend to take up the opportunity to snap up the Gabonese striker, leaving Barcelona clear in the race to sign him.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s career has come to a grinding halt at Arsenal, after what has been an exclamation point to twelve months of intense struggle for him. However, what has been the deal-breaker for the 32-year-old at the Emirates is his poor discipline, with substandard behaviour prompting the Gunners to strip him of the club captaincy role.
Aubameyang had already been enduring a difficult 2021/22 campaign, amassing only four goals and one assist in 14 Premier League appearances. However, the latest setback has essentially brought about the end of his Arsenal stint, as he has been frozen out of the first-team picture. Such a situation has alerted several clubs, with Barcelona and Real Madrid also offered the chance to sign him.
According to recent reports, Aubameyang is also open to joining Barcelona. The interest from the Blaugrana makes sense, considering Xavi Hernandez can no longer hope to call upon Sergio Aguero as the Argentine international has been forced to retire from all forms of football.
With neither Martin Braithwaite nor Luuk de Jong inspiring much confidence as regular options to lead the line, Barcelona’s need to sign a striker has been accentuated. However, for a long time, the Catalan giants seemed to be facing stiff competition from Real Madrid in the race to sign Aubameyang.
Such a thought process has now been put to rest, as Real Madrid will not be taking up the opportunity to sign the beleaguered Arsenal star. According to El Nacional, Aubameyang’s attitude has not rubbed off well on Florentino Perez, which is why the Merengues have rejected the chance to sign him.
The latest development leaves Barcelona as the possible leader to sign Aubameyang, with Real Madrid not in the running to secure his services. As for Aubameyang, his time at Arsenal is nigh on ending, as he is no longer training with the Arsenal first-team ahead of his departure for the Africa Cup of Nations.
