Deportivo La Coruña: Aubameyang explains his decision to sign

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was officially unveiled this Tuesday as the new signing for Deportivo La Coruña.

Facing the press, the former OM star reflected on his decision to leave Marseille for Spain. "When Deportivo called me, I thought I should listen to what they had to say. I’ve known about Deportivo since their Champions League days. Seeing them back in the top flight is important. Being able to help this team means a lot to me. During our conversation, I was convinced, and we decided to go for it. I’m still very enthusiastic and eager to achieve a lot. I want to keep playing as before, as a striker. Hidalgo wants me to use my experience for the team. I really appreciated our talk. It was a very open exchange. He was direct. He explained what he expected from me and what this role was about. I like this kind of pressure. I know a lot is expected from me, but I’m ready. I’m preparing myself very well. I can’t wait to meet those expectations.", he said.

The former FC Barcelona player added: "When I arrived, everything went really well. I was given a warm welcome and I’m very grateful for that. I see a lot of quality here, and I like that. The first match went well. I think we played well for an hour. I see a lot of positives. I really liked what I saw from the guys. (…) Here in Spain, it’s a matter of culture, with play building up from the back. In France, football is more physical and demands a lot of effort. In Germany, the game is more open, attackers can really express themselves, and that’s why there are so many goals. I got to watch the World Cup, and that’s also why Spain won."

Finally, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was asked about how many goals he wants to score this season. "I couldn’t say. I know the season can be a good one. Given the difference between the player I was before and the one I’ve become, I think I understand the game better and can spot the gaps. The goals will come. I don’t know the exact number, but I hope there will be plenty. I’m going to score goals, provide a lot of assists and win matches. That’s the ambition I came here with. I want to thank Deportivo for their trust. They watched my matches last year and saw that I always work hard and give my best. The most important thing is the passion for playing football," he concluded.

Joshua SOSSOU

Editorfr, en, ar

As a sports fan, and particularly a football fan, I've been putting my writing talent to good use for a number of years now to promote African talent and the continent's football in general. On Foot Africa, enjoy reading each of my lines.

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