Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang admits he gave up his £350k-a-week salary at Arsenal because joining Barcelona ‘is an opportunity you have once in a lifetime’

Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang has admitted he gave up his £350,000-a-week salary at Arsenal in order to join Barcelona.

The 32-year-old Gabonese striker had been banished by Mikel Arteta and stripped of the captaincy after returning late from a personal trip in December.

A month later, he left Arsenal by mutual consent before joining Barcelona in a dramatic deadline day move at the end of the January transfer window. 

Speaking to Mundo Deportivo, the striker revealed that it was his ‘dream’ to join Barcelona, and knew the deal might happen a week before it went through.

He said: ‘My father did it all with my lawyer and they can say it best. 

‘But the week before we already knew that he could end up signing for Barca. The week before there were already contacts and I knew it.

He added: ‘I really wanted to go to Barca. I gave up my salary because it is an opportunity that you have once in your life.’ 

Aubameyang’s £350,000-per-week contract was due to expire next summer, with the remaining time worth around £27million. He revealed that he spoke to a number of present and former Barcelona players including Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, Hector Bellerin, and Ousmane Dembele about the Catalan club.  

The striker arrived in Spain on deadline day though there was initially confusion after there had been no agreement between the clubs. 

The striker arrived in Spain on deadline day to seal his transfer to the club. He made a promising start to life at the Catalan giants, scoring a hat-trick at the weekend in their 4-1 victory over Valencia.

In doing so, Aubameyang became the first player to score a hat-trick in the Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1.