Nothing beats the opening weekend for these ‘wait, when did they signal for them?’ moments.
In 2026, no person embodies that phenomenon fairly like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, main the road for Deportivo La Coruna after eight years away from La Liga.
It’s straightforward to lose observe of the Gabonese striker’s actions after his peak years at Arsenal, such has been his nomadic nature. Since leaving the Emirates in 2022, he hasn’t spent longer than a season at anybody membership.
There was a short resurgence at Barcelona, that full non-starter of a stint at Chelsea, two separate, first rate sufficient spells at Marseille and a yr out within the Saudi Professional League for good measure. All over the place besides Stamford Bridge has seen the veteran notch respectable goalscoring returns.
Catching up on Aubameyang’s late-career exploits has led us to a spectacular story in L’Equipe that we aren’t fairly certain how we missed on the time.
“The issue arose when Aubameyang used a hearth extinguisher to spray Bob Tahri, the sporting director’s consultant liable for imposing the curfew on the coaching floor, his mattress, and his private belongings,” the report states.
“The previous 3000-metre steeplechase champion took it very badly and reported the incident to the higher-ups on the Marseille membership.”
Aubameyang, the membership captain, was the supposed ringleader of the late-season hijink. He was suspended from the ultimate match of the season in consequence, earlier than being quietly ushered out the door in the summertime.
As an apart, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg succeeded Aubameyang as Les Olympiens’ captain, however he’s already been stripped of the armband after refusing a summer season transfer to Newcastle. One common day of Marseille; won’t ever occur.
And so right here we’re, Aubameyang again for his second spell in Spain’s prime flight.
The striker has scored bagloads of targets throughout the Bundesliga, Ligue 1, Premier League and La Liga. The one one lacking to finish the set is Serie A, having missed out after being offered by AC Milan earlier than he may make his debut.
His newest purpose, on his aggressive debut for Depor, noticed him transfer joint-ninth with Kylian Mbappe and Luis Suarez for probably the most targets scored in Europe’s 5 main leagues this century, and the eight names above him are undisputed legends of the sport.
The style wherein he took it, with “scrumptious management” because the commentator so aptly put it, resides proof of one of many biggest goalscorers of his technology.
Classic Aubameyang! 😍
An excellent second as Deportivo la Coruna rejoice their first purpose again in LALIGA 🔵⚪ pic.twitter.com/7gpHfWbVUb
— Premier Sports activities (@PremSportsTV) August 17, 2026
Regardless of that distinctive document, his trophy cupboard is comparatively missing. A smattering of home cups. Zero league titles. Auba’s Wikipedia honours listing does embrace the 2022-23 La Liga trophy, however he made one look for Barca in August of that season earlier than shifting to Chelsea. We’re not having that.
Evaluate that to the opposite names within the 200+ targets membership in Europe, and it’s stuffed with serial title winners. Mbappe and Suarez, sure, but in addition Edinson Cavani, Karim Benzema, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robert Lewandowski.
There’s a parallel universe wherein Aubameyang has represented the likes of Bayern Munich, Juventus, PSG and gained numerous titles nearly by default. On this realm, he’s performed for some huge golf equipment, however with a way of ‘proper place, incorrect time’.
Borussia Dortmund throughout Pep Guardiola’s Bayern dynasty. Late Wenger Arsenal. Todd Boehly’s Chelsea. Publish-financial-collapse Barcelona. Chaos simply appears to observe him round, however perhaps he brings it with him – fireplace extinguisher in tow.
So right here he’s, aged 37, again in La Liga and main the road for Deportivo. A membership with an excellent historical past, newly promoted from the second tier, and now boasting some of the prolific strikers of the century.
It’s laborious to consider a extra enjoyable switch this summer season, and we will’t wait to see the place this one goes.
By Nestor Watach
TRY A QUIZ: Are you able to title the highest 25 goalscorers in Europe’s 5 main leagues in 2025-26?
