Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has revealed that he would like to play for La Liga side Real Madrid in the future. The Borussia Dortmund striker has been in fine form this season but said that the longing for a move to the Spanish capital is based on personal reasons rather than wanting to move to a bigger club.
Aubameyang has scored 31 goals for club and country this season, including 20 in the Bundesliga. He is one behind Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski in the league’s goalscoring charts. Dortmund have improved this season under Thomas Tuchel and are currently in second place – eight points behind Bayern at the start of the weekend.
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The Gabon striker told French publication L’Equipe that his wish to move to Real Madrid was because of a promise he made to his grandfather who passed away recently. His grandfather stayed in Spain, 110km northwest of Madrid.
“My childhood dream was to play for Real Madrid. Before he (his grandfather) died two years ago I promised him that one day I would play for Real Madrid,” Aubameyang said.
“My grandfather was from Avila, not far from Madrid. It’s what I said to him. I know it’s not easy but it’s something I keep in mind.
“Real Madrid, or another great Spanish club, would also be a great gift to my mother.”
Aubameyang’s goal celebration is to honour a Real Madrid legend
The 26-year-old was also asked about his acrobatic goal celebration seen every time he scores a goal, he said it was to honour Mexican forward Hugo Sanchez who is arguably the greatest ever Mexican player and the fourth highest goal scorer in La Liga.
Sanchez had played for both Atletic Madrid and Real Madrid, scoring 208 goals in all competitions for the latter. He spent seven seasons with Los Blancos before leaving the club in 1992.
“I celebrate my goals with a cartwheel in honour of Hugo Sanchez,” Aubameyang explained. “I’ve seen many videos of him on the internet and I’ve been following him since I was a boy.
“I’ve spent a lot of time in front of goal practicing my finishing with both feet and with my head, playing as a number 9.”
Real Madrid are currently appealing a FIFA-enforced transfer ban and may not be able to sign the striker if they wanted to unless the ban is lifted. Else, they may have to wait till January 2018 or even the summer after the 2017/18 seasons if the two-window ban is enforced.
He also has a contract with the German club until the summer of 2020 and the club will not sell him for cheap, as they have mentioned on many occasions when he was a target for other top clubs in Europe.
