Real Madrid target Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has revealed his intention to leave Borussia Dortmund this summer.
According to RMC Sport, the Dortmund superstar feels he needs to leave the club in order to take his career to the next level. Aubameyang has previously stated his desire to join Real Madrid on several occasions, but also admitted that playing in Paris appealed to him.
“If I want to go to the next level, I need to leave in summer,” Aubameyang said, according to RMC Sport. “But we must see the proposals if I’m going to play. Real Madrid remains a dream of mine, but there has been too much noise. I have an important choice to make.”
“Many people would like to see me in the English Premier League. It’s not necessarily the championship that attracts me the most, but it could permit me to take the next step. I like La Liga a lot. Paris is also an attraction. France would not be my first option, but it’s not unimaginable. French is of course my first language.”
Aubameyang, who was recently linked with a move to China amid reports that Shanghai SIPG had made a ridiculous €150 million bid for the Gabon international’s services, also insisted that China was definitely not on his mind at the moment.
“It’s not an objective of mine to go there. Certainly not now. I can rule that out completely for the moment.”
Aubameyang has stated his intention to join Real Madrid at some point in his career on several occasions. He even once admitted that he had promised his grandfather that he would play for Los Blancos before the latter passed away, so there is clearly an emotional connection for him with the Bernabeu.
He has long been linked with moves to top clubs across Europe as a result of his prolific performances. This season has been no different and Aubameyang has scored 16 goals in 16 appearances in the Bundesliga for Thomas Tuchel’s side.
It is this kind of form that led Dortmund chief Hans-Joachim Watzke to admit that a bid of €80m would likely be enough to convince them to sell.
However, Dortmund apparently rejected a club-record €93 million bid from Arsenal in the summer for the Gabon international and if those reports were true, Watzke’s comments represent a slight change in stance.
Things have now changed in any case as this is the first time Aubameyang has stated he would like to leave without being ambiguous and given the striker’s desire and Dortmund’s willingness to sell for the right price it appears the Gabon international will most probably be on the move in the summer.
