Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was the victim of a break-in at his home in Barcelona on Sunday.
The La Liga club confirmed to The Sporting News that the striker and his family were “doing well” following the incident at his home at Castelldefels in the early hours of Monday. Catalan police are now investigating, according to Spanish publication El Pais.
Aubameyang, 33, had only just returned home following Barcelona’s 4-0 league win over Real Valladolid, in which he was an unused substitute.
The Gabon international was a critical piece of the Barcelona squad last season after arriving in the winter, but has fallen down the pecking order this season after the arrival of Robert Lewandowski.
MORE: High-flying Lewandowski leads Barcelona past newly-promoted Real Valladolid
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang robbery latest
El Pais first reported on Monday, August 29 that Aubameyang had been the victim of what the publication described as a “violent robbery” at his home in Castelldefels, an affluent suburb of Barcelona popular with footballers.
According to El Pais, at least four men invaded Aubameyang’s home at around 1 a.m. local time after climbing into his garden. The men threatened Aubameyang and his wife and physically attacked the former Arsenal striker, El Pais said, citing police sources. The couple were forced to open a safe, from which the thieves are claimed to have taken jewellery before fleeing the scene in a car.
Barcelona were unable to confirm the precise details described by El Pais and other publications, but the club told The Sporting News and other outlets that Aubameyang and his family were “doing well after the incident”.
The Mossos d’Esquadra, the Catalonian police force, have reportedly opened an investigation into the alleged robbery.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Barcelona stats
Aubameyang signed for Barcelona last February after his contract at Arsenal was terminated by mutual consent.
Signing for one of Europe’s great clubs held obvious appeal for a player who was 32 at the time, yet it was not an easy moment to join Barca. The club’s off-field turmoil amid financial problems and a change in presidency, coupled with returning hero Xavi’s attempts to transform their fortunes on the pitch, meant Aubameyang’s deal always felt like more of a short-term option.
7 – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 🇬🇦 has scored seven goals in seven games for @FCBarcelona in @LaLigaEN, the fewest appearances to reach seven goals in the competition in the 21st century, alongside Zlatan Ibrahimović 🇸🇪 in 2009 y André Silva 🇵🇹 in 2018. Bargain. pic.twitter.com/GpbIXXBB3D
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) March 21, 2022
Still, Aubameyang started well at Camp Nou, scoring 11 league goals in just 13 starts last season. Over that period, he was joint-seventh in terms of goals scored among players in Europe’s top-five leagues, one behind Robert Lewandowski and Harry Kane on 12. Aubameyang’s average of 0.91 goals per 90 minutes placed him fifth behind Kylian Mbappe, Moussa Dembele, Karim Benzema and Christopher Nkunku in the top divisions.
117′ – @Auba with @FCBarcelona in all competitions:
🥅 2.25 shots per game
🚀 scores every 4.15 shots
⚽️ 24.07% of shot conversion rate
⏰ scores every 117′Worthwhile. 🎁 pic.twitter.com/tigvoaOiOH
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) August 24, 2022
Will Aubameyang leave Barcelona?
Aubameyang has been heavily linked with a move away from Barcelona in this transfer window.
With the Catalans having signed Lewandowski from Bayern Munich for an initial €45 million (£38.4m/$45m), the Gabon international’s starting spot under Xavi has been taken. The club are also eager to lighten their wage bill and recoup some funds through player sales, and Aubameyang represents a viable means to do both.
Chelsea have long been linked with a bid for the player, despite his Arsenal connections. Blues boss Thomas Tuchel worked with Aubameyang at Borussia Dortmund and is a keen admirer of the player, while the departure of Romelu Lukaku back to Inter Milan has left the Premier League club eager to recruit a new centre-forward.
Manchester United have also been tipped to make a bid for the player before the transfer window closes this week. The Red Devils, like Chelsea, do not have many options to play as a No.9 despite a wealth of attacking talent in their squad, and if Cristiano Ronaldo manages to secure the transfer away from Old Trafford that he wants, United could turn to Aubameyang as his replacement.