SINCE signing for Arsenal, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been a big hit in front of goal.
The 31-year-old striker, who revealed he caught malaria on international duty, comes from a footballing dynasty, his father was a football legend in Africa and his brothers still play.
Incredibly, despite representing Gabon, he was raised in Milan where his father is a scout for the Rossoneri.
And if that’s not enough, Aubameyang might’ve worn the black and white of Newcastle had Alan Pardew had his way.
Let SunSport welcome you into the untold story of Arsenal’s star man.
He lived an affluent life in Milan…
Growing up, Aubameyang didn’t want for anything and grew up in Milan and not Gabon, who he plays internationally for.
His father Pierre Francois Aubameyang was a scout for A.C. Milan, while his mum Margarita Crespo Aubameyang ran a trendy boutique.
Aubameyang was actually born in Laval, France, which is around 190 miles from Paris.
He had a cultured existence as a youth, well before his rise to fame in the game.
Aubameyang’s dad was rated the finest defender in Africa…
Being good at football runs deep in the Aubameyang family and it all started with Pierre-Emerick’s dad.
Pierre Francious, affectionately referred to as “Yaya”, was highly thought of as a player himself.
He played 80 times for Gabon and was a key member of their 1994 and 1996 African Cup of Nations campaigns.
In a career that spanned 20 years, from 1982 to 2002, he played for Laval, Le Havre and Toulouse to name a few clubs.
After a fine career he continues to scout for AC Milan.
Which is where he placed his sons…
Before Pierre-Emerick became the £70m-rated superstar he is today, he was just a young pretender at AC Milan.
He was at the San Siro with his two older brothers Catalina and Willy after their dad got them a gig at the club.
Only Willy played a competitive game for the Milanese giants, with all three eventually moving on to pastures new.
Catalina, now 37, appears to be without a club. He was last known to be playing in Gabon after a journeyman career that took in various Italian and French clubs.
Willy, 34, most recently played for non-league German club FC Kray.
He played for Kilmarnock in Scotland 2011, but after 6 games he moved on.
He could have already been a Premier League star…
After impressing at Saint Etienne, Aubameyang’s talents caught the eye of Alan Pardew.
‘Pards’ wanted to make the Gabonese striker the focal point of his attack and was very close to signing him.
It came between a straight decision in 2013 to who he wanted to choose – Dortmund or Newcastle.
On the advice of his old man, Pierre-Emerick opted for Dortmund breaking the Geordies’ hearts.
To be fair, it was the right decision.
And one more thing…
Now, we know Aubameyang is obsessed with former Chelsea striker Hernan Crespo.
He loves him so much he has a tattoo on his arm that reads, ‘Crespo for Life’ emblazoned on his arm.
But it has been reported that Aubameyang’s mom is actually related to the Serie A legend.
While this hasn’t been confirmed, Aubameyang waxes lyrical about Crespo whenever he gets the chance.
“Crespo is dynamic, strong in the air, technically-gifted and a giant of a player,” he once said of his idol.
