Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang makes shock international retirement U-turn as Chelsea forward to return to Gabon duty
CHELSEA striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will return to the Gabon team — a year after announcing his international retirement.
Ex-Arsenal star Auba hung up his boots having scored a record 28 goals in 68 games.
GettyPierre-Emerick Aubameyang faces an uncertain future at troubled Chelsea[/caption]
GettyBut the Gabon hero has shocked by making an international return[/caption]
His U-turn was driven by a meeting with Gabon president Ali Bongo Ondimba in his homeland.
Aubameyang, 33, said on Instagram afterwards: “I had the immense honour of being received by the President and at the same time to listen to the wise words he has passed on to me.”
Gabon’s next game is an African Cup of Nations qualifier against DR Congo in June.
The former Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona star stopped playing international football in May 2022.
Now he’s back after one of his most testing season in club football.
The £350,000-a-week veteran has often struggled for even a bench role amid a Chelsea squad full of mis-fitting under-achievers.
Interim boss Frank Lampard brought him out of the wilderness against Arsenal on May 2 – but he was taken off at half-time in a 3-1 defeat
Most tellingly of all, Lampard’s predecessor Graham Potter left him out of the club’s Champions League squad in January.
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That’s despite the Blues lacking any fit forwards at the time.
It means Aubameyang appears certain to need a new club this summer.
