Chelsea outcast wanted January transfer to Barcelona, but La Liga rules stopped move | OneFootball

According to Javi Miguel of AS, Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was keen on returning to Barcelona during the January transfer window.

The 33-year-old striker signed for Barça exactly one year ago today, joining on a free transfer after his contract with Arsenal was terminated. He quickly became an important player at Camp Nou and played a key role in the Catalans finishing second in La Liga last season.

But, Barcelona were forced to sell Aubameyang to Chelsea in the summer window due to their financial woes and the failed attempt to offload Memphis Depay.

Since returning to London, the striker has struggled to perform, with things getting even more difficult for him once Graham Potter took over the reins.

Aubameyang had some sort of a falling out with the Chelsea boss and was looking to leave the club during the winter window.

With Barcelona managing to get rid of Depay by selling him to Atletico Madrid, there was a vacancy in the attacking unit at the club. And, Aubameyang was keen on returning to Camp Nou just six months after leaving.

The update from Javi Miguel states that manager Xavi Hernandez had also given the green light for the operation while FIFA rules would have allowed the transfer as well. However, La Liga’s regulations ended up scuppering the chances of a transfer.

Having had to stay put at Chelsea, Aubameyang has now been axed from the club’s UEFA Champions League squad for the knockout phase.

Meanwhile, Barcelona did not sign any new forwards in the winter while their attempt to land a new right-back in the form of Julian Araujo has also fallen through due to missed deadlines.