'significant sacrifice' Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang takes huge wage cut to get Barcelona deal over line

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has accepted a “significant sacrifice” on his salary at new club Barcelona, where the striker will take home at least £150,000 (€180,000) a week less after leaving Arsenal on a free transfer to sign at the Nou Camp.

The former Arsenal captain (32) has been confirmed as a Barca player and will be unveiled today.

His contract runs until 2025 but has a break option for the end of next season and a buyout clause of £83.4 million (€100m).

Sources close to Aubameyang say his decision was not money-driven, which is reflected in the cut in salary.

He earned £250,000 (€300,000) a week at the Arsenal, which could have risen to £350,000 (€420,000) with bonuses.

The club also paid an undisclosed settlement to terminate his contract.

Barca have agreed a deal worth £2.085 million (€2.5m) for the rest of the season, which is approximately £100,000 (€120,000) a week.

The club should be in a position to increase his salary in 2022-’23 when players leave the Nou Camp, such as out-of-contract Ousmane Dembele.

Mikel Arteta dropped Aubameyang from the Arsenal team and stripped him of the captaincy before his departure but the player did not hand in a transfer request or refuse to train.

“I’m very proud, especially as my family is Spanish from my mother’s side,” he said about his move. “My main goal is to help the team and give everything I can to get the team back to the Champions League.”

Aubameyang has trained with his new team-mates and will compete for a place in the team to face Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

Barca coach Xavi has previously stated that the Gabon international would struggle at the Nou Camp.

“Aubameyang can kill you in open space. But Barcelona need players who know how to move in small spaces,” said Xavi, who now must try to find a way of using him.

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]