Some experiences in life leave a lasting impression. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s time at OM was one of them.
The Gabonese striker arrived free from Chelsea in the summer of 2023 and enjoyed a remarkable season there. The club’s top scorer in Ligue 1 (17 goals), the Europa League (10 goals), the Champions League (2 goals) and the Coupe de France (1 goal, tied with Jordan Veretout), the No10 helped the Phocéens reach a European semi-final for the eighth time in their history.
And that’s all it takes to understand the dismay felt by his president, Pablo Longoria, when he announced his intention to leave Marseille just one season after moving there.
It has to be said that the golden bridge offered by Al-Qadsiah (€10m per year for two seasons) to the forward seemed difficult to refuse. In financial terms, however, the deal turned out to be a win-win situation, with Marseille pocketing a €9m transfer fee for the 35-year-old and a salary saving of around €700k gross per month, as well as substantial bonuses.
And while many thought that Aubameyang’s relationship with the French club had come to an end, the announcement of his return to the Phocaean city was greeted with joy by the fans, who have kept the memory of him close to their hearts.
A love shared by the player himself, who in June, having been released from his contract by Al-Qadsiah in a bid to change his strategy and recruit a younger striker (the club has since made official the arrival of Mateo Retegui from Atalanta), was quick to respond to approaches from the Marseille board. To the point of agreeing to reduce his salary and turn down more lucrative offers from the Gulf.
At OM, Aubameyang will now have the opportunity to enjoy a return to the Champions League, which he has not played in since 2022, and to take part in the ambitious project led by Roberto De Zerbi.
A project in which the right- footed ace will undoubtedly have a role to play, having proved in the Saudi Pro League that it was not yet time to hang up his boots.
“He has been one of the best strikers in the league and it will be difficult to find a successor for him,” comments Inad, a fervent Al-Qadsiah supporter. “He has rare qualities and has consistently proved decisive in big games. He has always been there when the team needed him, always given everything he could and we are grateful to him for that.”
And although Aubameyang still needed a few weeks to adapt to his new surroundings, there is no doubt that it was well worth it.
Alongside Julian Quinones, who arrived from Club America at the same time as him, the 2023 Spanish champion shone. Scoring 21 goals in 36 appearances in all competitions, he led his team to fourth place in the table and a spot in the King’s Cup final (the equivalent of the FA Cup or the Coupe de France).
Already a leader on the field, Aubameyang is one off it too. “Off the pitch, he was kind and funny, connecting the team with each other and always trying to keep the positive energy among the team. He was also always replying and connected with the fans through social media or in the stadium,” explains Inad.
That sounds just like Aubameyang. After all, isn’t it the definition of an OM-compatible player?
