Marseille’s president could block Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s Saudi Arabian move | OneFootball

Olympique de Marseille had accepted that there would be numerous departures this summer as the club attempts to shed one-third of its wage bill after a disappointing season saw Les Phocéens miss out on European football.

There had been a reluctant acceptance that all players were on the chopping block, even Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (35), despite the club’s preference to keep him. The club’s top goalscorer last season has by far the largest wage at the club and will be entering the last year of his contract.

The Saudi Pro League’s interest in the veteran striker was begrudgingly accepted and it appeared as if a deal was close to being struck between Marseille and Al-Qadisiyah earlier today which reportedly would see Aubameyang earn around €10 million per year.

However, according to La Provence, the club president Pablo Longoria could scupper the deal as Aubameyang never told him face-to-face that he wanted to leave. As a point of principle, Longoria will allegedly block any deal until the striker communicates his intentions.

He will also not sell the striker for a cut-price deal, with Marseille expecting a price fitting one of the players they still hope will be a keystone for Roberto De Zerbi to build upon.

GFFN | Nick Hartland