Hands off Auba, Europe’s elite warned
GUANGZHOU — Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday moved to end speculation about the future of star striker PierreEmerick Aubameyang by insisting the Gabon international is going nowhere.
Aubameyang, who scored 31 Bundesliga goals last season, has been linked with big-money moves to Real Madrid, Chelsea, AC Milan, Paris SaintGermain and Tianjin Quanjian in recent weeks.
The 28-year-old netted twice on Tuesday as Dortmund beat AC Milan 3-1 on its preseason tour of China.
The transfer window in Germany closes at midnight on Aug 31, but director of sport Michael Zorc claimed it is effectively already shut for Aubameyang.
“We have decided that Auba will stay with Borussia Dortmund. The transfer window is closed as far as he is con- cerned, because otherwise we would have run out of time (to find a replacement),” said Zorc.
Tianjin was reportedly willing to pay $92.6 million for Aubameyang, but, with three years left on his Dortmund contract, the German club is adamant he is staying put.
New Dortmund coach Peter Bosz, who has replaced Thomas Tuchel, unsurprisingly wants Aubameyang in his lineup when the new Bundesliga season starts on Aug 18.
“I am glad that he is on my team,” said Bosz, who led Ajax to the Europa League final last term.
“He is an extraordinary player and he has shown that once more against Milan. He’s a great bloke and a great footballer.”
On Tuesday night, Aubameyang showed just why Dortmund is so reluctant to part company with him with two superb goals in rain-lashed Guangzhou.
Nuri Sahlin opened the scoring for Dortmund after 16 minutes following a period of sustained pressure, side-footing home after good work from American teen prodigy Christian Pulisic.