Mueez Ajao
– Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang said he “never wanted to do anything wrong” after a fall out with Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta precipitated a January move to Barcelona.
– Aubameyang, 32, joined Barca on a free transfer after having his contract rescinded at Arsenal, where he had been cut adrift since December.
– Arteta dropped the forward, forced him to train alone and stripped him of the club captaincy following what the Spanish coach said was a series of disciplinary breaches during his time in charge.
Also Read: BREAKING: Aubameyang stripped Arsenal captainship l
– “It has been a difficult two months,” Aubameyang said at his presentation as a Barca player on Thursday. “Sometimes football can be like that.
– “If I had to say something on my behalf, I would say I never wanted to do anything wrong. But now I have to put it behind me because it’s in the past.”
– Aubameyang, who scored 92 goals in 163 games for Arsenal after arriving for £56 million from Borussia Dortmund, had the armband taken off him at the club after returning late from a pre-agreed trip to France to see his ill mother.
– “I think the problem was just with Arteta and he took the decision he took,” the Gabon international added. “I can not say too much. He wasn’t happy, I stayed calm and that is it.”
– Arsenal agreed to terminate Aubameyang’s contract on Monday, freeing him to sign for Barca on a deal until 2025, although there is a break clause which can be executed in 2023.
– “It’s always been a dream to play in LaLiga,” he said. “This is the opportunity of a lifetime and everyone knows Barca are one of the best clubs in the world. I am really happy to be here.”
– Aubameyang has been training with his new teammates since Tuesday and could make his debut in Sunday’s match against Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou.
– He became Barca’s fourth signing of the January window, following the arrivals of Dani Alves, Ferran Torres and Adama Traore.
