Barcelona’s Summer Snub: Why Aubameyang’s Return Was Turned Down

In an unexpected turn of events, Barcelona reportedly rejected the opportunity to re-sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during the summer transfer window. According to Diario Sport’s Lluis Miguelsanz, the club deemed it unnecessary to acquire another striker, banking on Vitor Roque’s impending arrival in January.

Aubameyang, who departed Barcelona in the summer of 2022, expressed his interest in returning to the club twice – first in January and later during the summer. Despite the chance to secure his services a few months ago, Barcelona opted to decline the offer.

The current striking options for Barca have been Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, with the former struggling to reach peak form and the latter proving more effective as a substitute than a starter. Additionally, the loan of Ansu Fati, who occasionally played as a striker, further influenced Barcelona’s decision.

Meanwhile, Aubameyang has been in stellar form for Marseille this season, notching an impressive 12 goals and providing 6 assists in 21 appearances. The Gabonese striker had previously scored 13 goals in 24 matches for Barcelona in 2022. The rejection raises questions about Barca’s striker strategy as they navigate the challenges of the current campaign.