Xavi regrets selling Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Chelsea

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By Martin Graham | 4th Sep 2022

Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez admits he feels bad at the sale of Aubameyang to Chelsea. On the final day of the transfer window, Barcelona sold Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Chelsea after just half a season with the Catalan giants.

For the right price, a club can sell their player. The number of years or goals the player has scored for the club is irrelevant. The depth of love the player has for the club is inconsequential. The bottom line is the price.

It is a money game, and Barcelona are enmeshed in debt and a massive wage bill that is crippling the daily functions of the club. The president had to be proactive to bail the club out of their current predicament. Some of the actions taken include wage cuts and the selling of club assets and players.

Several players have left the club, including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Despite selling the Gabon international, Barcelona seems not to miss him as Robert Lewandowski is firing on all cylinders, but Xavi has noted his regrets at the sale.

Xavi regrets the sale of Aubameyang

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joined Barcelona in January. The Gabon international has not played a complete season for the club before being sold back to the Premier League.

The former Arsenal striker had already integrated himself into the Barcelona set-up and was a fan favourite. Despite this, the Catalan giants had to take action to get the club on an even keel. Following his departure from Los Blaugrana, the club manager Xavi Hernandez has admitted regrets at letting Aubameyang leave.

Xavi claims to feel bad after Barcelona decided it was best to sell the former Arsenal striker to Chelsea. In his statement, he described the forward as a jewel.

Aubameyang joined Chelsea this summer for £10m on deadline day. The deal that took Aubameyang to Chelsea saw defender Marcos Alonso move the other way. Xavi confessed he was reluctant to part ways with the forward as he was an exemplary athlete on and off the pitch.

In the 23 games Aubameyang played for Barcelona last season, the striker scored 13 goals, including a brace in a 4-0 El Clasico win at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

Xavi praises Aubameyang

The ex-Arsenal captain had hoped to rekindle his Borussia Dortmund partnership with Robert Lewandowski.

Xavi could not hide his emotions and freely lavished praise on Aubameyang.

The financial situation at the club meant that the club had to sell, and Xavi admitted it was a shame, but it is what it is. He said any coach would want such players in the squad, but it was a good opportunity for the club and Aubameyang.

Xavi said the club needed to put the pieces together and believes everyone is happy.

On his part, Aubameyang is happy to have joined Chelsea and says he has some unfinished business in the Premier League.