Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang said he is looking forward to a fresh start at Barcelona when he signed for the La Liga giants on a transfer deadline after a difficult phase with Arsenal.
Aubameyang completed his move to Barcelona as a free agent on Wednesday after leaving Arsenal by mutual consent, ending speculation about his future after Arteta was stripped of the captaincy in December due to a “disciplinary breach”. .
Aubameyang’s signing follows the arrival of winger Adama Traore on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers as Barcelona look to rebuild after Lionel Messi’s departure from Paris Saint-Germain.
To bolster their attacking options, Barcelona also signed Spanish forward Ferran Torres from Manchester City for around €55 million ($62.68 million) in the transfer window.
“Barca are a great club that have to win the Champions League, so I am here,” Aubameyang said. “I’m here to do everything we can to get back in the Champions League and then go out and win it.
“I’ve always dreamed of playing in La Liga, it’s something I’ve dreamed of as a kid. This is the opportunity of my life. Barca are one of the best clubs in the world that’s why I’m here.”
Barcelona are fifth in the LaLiga standings, 15 points behind leaders and rivals Real Madrid, who have played a game more.
‘It was just a problem with ARTETA’
Meanwhile, Aubameyang said he left Premier League club Arsenal due to strained relations with manager Mikel Arteta, but the Gabon striker is keen to make a fresh start at Barcelona and help turn his fortunes.
The Gabonese Football Federation said the 32-year-old was also sent home early from the Africa Cup of Nations after a positive COVID-19 test said tests conducted in Cameroon found heart lesions.
“I think it was just a problem with him (Arteta),” Aubameyang told a news conference on Thursday. “He wasn’t happy and that was all. I can’t say anything more because that’s what happened. I wasn’t very happy and I’m better off that way.”
“There were some complicated months. Sometimes football is like that. If I had anything to say about this, I’d say, on my part, I never wanted anything bad to happen.
“Now I have to put it behind me, that is, in the past. I want to think about the present.” (with Reuters inputs)