Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang says he wanted to remain at Olympique Marseille but accepted the club’s decision to let him leave after a disorganised season in which players, coaches and management all shared responsibility for failing to qualify for the Champions League.
Speaking to L’Equipe on 14 August, Aubameyang said he did not want to stay where he felt unwanted or create further problems for a club already dealing with a difficult situation.
“Given the circumstances at the time, the club decided that I had to leave. And I would not go against the club’s wishes. I’m not the kind of person who likes to cause trouble or feel unwanted,” he said.
“I would have loved to stay because I truly value this club very much. But the circumstances at the time meant that I couldn’t stay.”
Olympique Marseille had targeted Champions League qualification but finished the campaign without achieving that objective. Aubameyang said the team’s only consolation was securing a place in the Europa League.
“Our goal was to qualify for the Champions League, but ultimately we failed. We did not complete our mission,” he said. “The only positive I can take from it is that, despite everything that happened, we still managed to qualify for a European competition (the Europa League).”
The 36-year-old described the campaign as extremely difficult, pointing to frequent changes within the team and an environment he felt was neither healthy nor stable.
He said Olympique Marseille needed to develop a “protective circle” around the squad to prevent external issues from affecting performances, but believed the club had failed to do so.
“At Olympique Marseille, you have to try to create your own “protective circle” and not let external matters affect you. We didn’t do that last season, and we paid a heavy price for it,” Aubameyang said.
The former Arsenal and Chelsea striker also rejected the idea that one group alone was responsible for the disappointing season.
“I believe everyone should bear some responsibility for this unsuccessful season: we players are responsible, the coaching staff is responsible, and the management is responsible as well. Communication between the two sides did not fully work,” he said.
Aubameyang felt the team had allowed setbacks to overwhelm it, even after the Champions League objective had disappeared. He believed Olympique Marseille still had the chance to challenge for the league title and continue in the French Cup, but said defeats created a sense of crisis.
“We were already out of the Champions League, which was indeed a failure, but we still had a lot to fight for then,” he said. “Unfortunately, it felt like everything was in chaos. Every time we lost a game, it felt like the end of the world, and we never saw the positive side.”
Despite his disappointment at the manner of his exit, Aubameyang said he had no regrets about either of his spells at Olympique Marseille.
“I always gave my all and never let this club down,” he said.
His record last season included 14 goals and 10 assists in 41 appearances. Aubameyang acknowledged that he would have preferred to perform even better, but felt those figures represented a strong campaign when compared with other players.
He said the club and its supporters remained special to him, describing the fans as demanding but capable of being “equally incredible” when the team wins. His desire to score, create and celebrate, he added, had not diminished.
Aubameyang has now joined Deportivo La Coruna, a move he described as both a new experience and an opportunity to become part of the club’s history. He recalled the “Super Depor” era, when Deportivo La Coruna won La Liga in 2000 and appeared regularly in the Champions League from 2000 to 2005.
“I still remember the “Super Depor” of the past, which won La Liga (2000) and consistently participated in the Champions League (2000-2005),” he said. “I want to experience it firsthand and be part of this history. I want to leave my mark here, just like those legendary players of that generation.”
Aubameyang said he had received offers from other clubs but was attracted by the challenge of helping Deportivo La Coruna return to the highest level. For now, however, the immediate priority is avoiding relegation.
“Our top priority this season is to avoid relegation,” he said.
The move also represents a return to La Liga for Aubameyang, who said he was happy to be back in Spain and felt a connection with the country through his Spanish heritage. He said Deportivo La Coruna wanted him to play a central role and use his experience to contribute both on and off the pitch.
Aubameyang added that he expected to continue playing for several more years. The next campaign will mark his 20th year as a professional footballer, but he said he still felt capable of scoring, providing assists and influencing matches.
“As long as my body tells me I can keep playing, I will keep playing,” he said. “After that, if I feel I can no longer perform at my best or play at a high level, of course, I might choose to retire. But for now, I believe I can still play for a few more years.”
