Aubameyang Reflects on Distressing Burglary Incident in Barcelona
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New Delhi, Jan 7 (NationPress) Pierre Emerick Aubameyang has shared the frightening ordeal he and his family endured when intruders invaded their home in August 2022.
At that time, the Gabonese forward was representing FC Barcelona and his residence in Castelldefels was targeted while his entire family was present. The assailants threatened his children with firearms and made off with valuables, including jewelry, watches, and a vehicle.
"My eldest son rushed in and said, ‘Dad, there are people in the house.’ I told him, 'Just find a place to hide.' The intruders entered from outside, where my wife was smoking with my cousin and her partner. They seized him (the cousin’s boyfriend) and stormed into the house. My wife was screaming. They were armed," Aubameyang recounted.
"Meanwhile, my sister-in-law was present with our youngest. I instructed her too, ‘Just try to hide.’ That’s when I first laid eyes on the intruders. There were four or five, I believe.
"One of them pointed a gun at me and commanded, ‘Get down.’ I declined, asking, ‘No, no, no. Just tell me what you want.’ We exchanged words, and he said, ‘Sit down.’ I refused, and that’s when he began to hit me," Aubameyang explained to The Athletic.
Aubameyang disclosed that the assailant broke his jaw, leaving him and his family emotionally scarred. Shortly after the incident, he departed the club to return to England, playing for Chelsea, after previously serving as captain for Arsenal.
"I constantly thought about this. Numerous nights passed without sleep, just reflecting on that. I have persistent nightmares. I’m someone who, if I don’t get quality rest, I can’t perform at my peak for any football team… The kids are frightened whenever they are alone," he added.
Aubameyang, currently with Al-Qadsiah FC, experienced a remarkable run at Arsenal, where he was appointed captain and led the team to the 2020 FA Cup victory, scoring 92 goals during his tenure.
However, discord with Mikel Arteta soured his relationship with the club and its supporters. He found himself sidelined multiple times due to disciplinary actions, with the final incident occurring when he was supposed to attend training but was spotted in Barcelona, which was also documented in Arsenal’s All or Nothing series. Aubameyang reflected on how extending his contract with Arsenal in 2021 was a misstep.
"To be truthful, at that moment, I wanted to leave. For me, it was time to pursue a new challenge. I had fulfilled my time. It was wonderful, but I needed change. Four years had passed; I had done remarkably well, and perhaps it was time to depart on good terms so that people remember me favorably as an Arsenal player. I felt compelled to leave because if I stayed, things might turn sour.
"He (Arteta) persuaded me. He stated, ‘I believe you can leave a legacy.’ That was the first time I encountered the term in English. He expressed, ‘If you remain, you can become an icon, like the legends at Arsenal.’ This shifted my perspective. He and the fans won me over to stay. Initially, however, I had intended to depart. That’s where it became chaotic because when you act against your instincts, perhaps that’s where I erred," Aubameyang concluded.
