Deportivo La Coruna’s sporting director Fernando Soriano insists the club have not signed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang “just because of his name”, after confirming a two-year deal for the 37-year-old forward.
Fresh from winning promotion back to La Liga, Deportivo have made a high-profile move in the transfer market by bringing in the former Gabon international, whose arrival in Galicia has immediately sparked debate in Spain.
Aubameyang’s scoring pedigree and vast experience at the top level are widely recognised, but his age has raised doubts over whether he can cope with the physical and tactical demands of a full season in the Spanish top flight.
Some pundits and supporters have questioned whether a newly promoted side should invest in a veteran striker rather than target younger, more durable players who might better withstand the intensity of La Liga over the long term.
Critics have highlighted concerns over the physical robustness of a player regarded as being in the twilight of his career, suggesting that the move represents an unnecessary gamble for a club whose primary objective will be to secure safety.
Despite that scepticism, Aubameyang retains a reputation as a prolific finisher and a major figure in European football, and Deportivo are acutely aware of the attention his signing will attract.
The club believe his presence will significantly raise their international profile and provide a commercial and media boost, at the same time as offering a proven goal threat on the pitch.
Soriano defends strategy
Responding to the growing scrutiny, Soriano moved to justify the decision and underline the thoroughness of Deportivo’s recruitment process when speaking to news agency EFE.
“J’ai deja dit qu’on cherchait des joueurs experimentes, qui pouvaient venir combler nos carences. Je veux etre clair : l’arrivee d’Aubameyang, on ne la fait pas juste a cause de son nom. Loin de la. Ce qu’on a vu de lui nous a impressionnes, son attitude, sa faim, son engagement, sa capacite a defendre… Il a un age avance, mais physiquement ca ne se ressent pas. Nous sommes convaincus qu’il va nous apporter ce qu’on cherchait,” Soriano said.
Soriano stressed that the club had set out to recruit seasoned players capable of addressing specific weaknesses in the squad and argued that Aubameyang’s profile fitted those requirements.
The sporting director highlighted the striker’s attitude, hunger for competition, commitment in and out of possession, and willingness to contribute defensively as key reasons behind the move.
While acknowledging the forward’s “advanced age”, Soriano maintained that Deportivo’s technical staff had seen no physical decline significant enough to deter them from offering a contract of two seasons.
He added that the club are convinced Aubameyang can still perform at the required level and deliver exactly the qualities they had been targeting in the market.
High expectations for high-profile recruit
Deportivo’s return to the elite of Spanish football has placed fresh pressure on the club to assemble a squad capable of competing immediately, and Aubameyang’s arrival is seen internally as a central part of that effort.
The club hope that the combination of his experience, goal-scoring instinct and global reputation will not only help them on the pitch but also re-establish Deportivo as a recognisable name on the European football landscape.
For now, the debate around the wisdom of investing in a 37-year-old forward is likely to continue, but Deportivo are standing firmly behind their decision and betting that Aubameyang’s impact will justify the risk.
