After a season in Saudi Arabia, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, at 36 years old, has made his much-anticipated return to Olympique Marseille, a move he openly describes with immense enthusiasm. The prolific striker, renowned for his stints at top clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal, and Barcelona, recently shared insights into his decision to rejoin OM during a press conference.
De Zerbi, Benatia, and a Straightforward Decision
Aubameyang revealed that preliminary discussions in January with OM`s new sporting director, Mehdi Benatia, were instrumental in laying the groundwork for his summer transfer. He recounted,
“We had a discussion in January to see how things might go. This year it was with Mehdi and Pablo [Longoria], and honestly they didn’t need to convince me. I had watched most of the season — it was a quick process.”
Crucially, the new OM manager, Roberto De Zerbi, also played a significant persuasive role. Aubameyang shared their conversation:
“We talked, of course. He didn’t want me to leave last time, so he has been teasing me since then. The idea now is to bring my experience and play football. I’m someone who is flexible.”
No Regrets About Saudi Spell
Despite his relatively swift return to French football, Aubameyang firmly insists that he harbors no regrets about his time spent in Saudi Arabia. He elaborated on his experience:
“I progressed technically, I helped the team play, and I played as part of a strike partnership. The speed? It’s still there. But when I watched Marseille last season, I wanted to be a part of that team.”
On Marseille’s Evolution Under De Zerbi
Aubameyang was full of praise for the significant structural progress he observed at Olympique Marseille, crediting the collective efforts of the club`s leadership and new coaching philosophy. He commented:
“It’s a lot of work done by Mehdi and Pablo, and a coach with strong ideas. We all know De Zerbi-ball. It’s a good thing for the club — it moves it forward.”
Champions League Ambitions: “No Limits”
As Marseille prepares for its return to the prestigious Champions League this season, Aubameyang is setting ambitious targets for the team. He stated his determination:
“If we want to compete with the best, we have to give ourselves the means which is what the club is doing this summer. For some it will be a first, for others not — but personally, I want to go as far as possible. I don’t put limits on myself.”
He also highlighted a profound sense of motivation stemming from last season`s disappointments, including their exit from the Coupe de France and OM’s Europa League semi-final defeat to Atalanta in the 2023-2024 campaign:
“There’s always a sense of revenge in me, and considering the season we had, that feeling is strong.”