Former Arsenal and Chelsea Star's Dream
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the former star striker for Arsenal and Chelsea, once dreamed of playing for Newcastle. However, his dream was altered when Jurgen Klopp, then manager of Borussia Dortmund, changed his mind.
Past Interest from Newcastle
In 2013, when Aubameyang was 24 years old, he was eager to leave Ligue 1 and caught the attention of several clubs. Newcastle, along with Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, and Paris Saint-Germain, were all interested in signing him. Aubameyang's impressive performance for Saint-Etienne, scoring 19 league goals, had caught the eye of many.
Newcastle's Bid Rejected
Newcastle made a bid of £15 million to secure Aubameyang's signature, hoping to pair him with Kurt Zouma for a double deal worth £26 million. However, the bid was rejected, leading Aubameyang to express his desire to play in the Premier League in a public statement. He praised Newcastle as a good club with passionate fans and St James's Park as a monumental stadium.
Choosing Dortmund over Newcastle
In the end, Aubameyang decided to sign for Borussia Dortmund, managed by Jurgen Klopp at the time. Dortmund had reached the Champions League final the previous season, and Aubameyang's father studied Klopp's game, which influenced their decision.
Success with Dortmund and Arsenal
Aubameyang flourished during his time at Dortmund, becoming one of the hottest strikers in Europe. He eventually made a move to Arsenal in 2018 in a £56 million deal, breaking their transfer record. At Arsenal, he won the FA Cup and scored 64 goals in 114 league games before facing difficulties in the 2021/22 season, which ultimately led to his departure from the club.
Transfers to Barcelona and Chelsea
After leaving Arsenal, Aubameyang joined Barcelona and made a solid start, scoring 11 goals in 17 La Liga matches. Subsequently, Chelsea signed him in the summer of 2023. Unfortunately, his time with Chelsea was marked by poor performance, as he only scored one Premier League goal and barely featured in a challenging campaign for both the club and himself.
The Impact on Newcastle
Looking back, if Newcastle had managed to sign Aubameyang during his prime, their fortunes in the past decade might have turned out differently. His shining star at Arsenal during challenging times suggests that his presence could have made a significant impact on Newcastle's squad.
