What Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang noticed about former Arsenal young star Charlie Patino as they meet again at Deportivo
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang recently shared why he decided to return to La Liga and team up again with a former Arsenal teammate at Deportivo. After leaving Marseille this summer—where he scored 14 goals in 41 games—he’s ready for a new adventure.
The Gabonese star is celebrating 20 years as a pro, having played in all of Europe’s top five leagues and scored over 300 goals in his career. Now, he’s taking another shot at Spain’s top league after a short spell at Barcelona. With a Spanish mom, Aubameyang has signed with Deportivo, a historic club that won La Liga in 2000 and just earned promotion back to the top division.
At 37, Aubameyang is excited for this fresh challenge, which kicks off with a match against Elche on Monday at Estadio Riazor. On a La Liga media call, he said, “Deportivo is in a great spot, and this is a new experience with such a special club. They want me to use my experience to play a key role, and I’m happy to be back in La Liga. It feels right with my Spanish roots. I hope I can bring something special to the team. Let’s see how it goes!”
Deportivo is the 12th club of his career, and while he had other options, Aubameyang felt this was the perfect challenge now. “My passion is still there, or else I’d choose something different. I want to push myself and help bring Deportivo back to where they belong. After 20 years, I’m still hungry—to score, celebrate, assist, and enjoy every moment.”
Among Deportivo’s new signings is Charlie Patino, a standout young player who came from the Arsenal academy and was once called the best to ever come through their youth system. Patino, who has Spanish citizenship and has played for England’s youth teams, made just two senior appearances for Arsenal before moving permanently to Deportivo when they were in the second division. He helped them earn promotion last season, and Aubameyang has noticed how much the young star has grown.
“The kid has really grown and is getting better with experience. I’m glad to be back with him—he’s a great guy. I’ve known him since he started out, and it’s great to have him in the team. We talk and laugh about our Arsenal days a lot. He’s gaining valuable experience, and I think that’s good for him.”