Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has admitted he wants to return to Barcelona this summer.
Having been frozen out of the Arsenal squad for disciplinary issues last season, the Gabon international moved to Barcelona in February 2022, netting 13 goals in 23 appearances during his first season at the club.
Despite their well-publicised financial issues, the Catalan giants still managed to land Robert Lewandowski, with Aubameyang being allowed to leave in a deal worth around £10 million to reunite with Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea.
The pair had previously worked together during their time at Borussia Dortmund, though the German coach was swiftly sacked just five Premier League games into the season.
Aubameyang started the Graham Potter era brightly, scoring three times in as many matches in October, though subsequently slid down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge, and was even left out of the club’s Champions League squad for the knockout stages, despite their chronic struggles in front of goal.
He has since been restored to the side under interim boss Frank Lampard, though the 33-year-old is expected to be allowed to leave the club this summer as Chelsea look to trim down a massively bloated squad of over 30 players.
According to the Times, Chelsea are ‘expected to terminate the final year of his lucrative contract this summer’, and the player seemingly harbours desires of a return to the Nou Camp.
Asked about his next move on the DjamLife Tiktok channel, he said: “I’d like to return to Barcelona . . . but we will see.”
Fabrizio Romano says the forward will ‘100% leave Chelsea’ this summer, though a move to Barcelona is by no means guarenteed.
The Catalans are still gripped by their financial issues, and while they are ‘open’ to re-signing the forward, a move would ‘depend’ on financial fair play, as well as the forward taking a reduction in his salary.
