Former Barcelona players Aubameyang & Umtiti find refuge in France

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Samuel Umtiti experienced two very different 2022/23 seasons. Practically opposite. On the one hand, the Gabon striker failed to show his best in the Chelsea shirt; on the other, the French centre-back felt like a footballer again at Lecce. The paths of the two former Barcelona players, however, are close to meeting. Barring an unexpected twist of fate, both will be playing in France's Ligue 1 next season.

Aubameyang has been announced as Olympique Marseille's newest signing. The attacker signs until 2026 after leaving Chelsea. On his return to London, he was unable to follow up on his remarkable half-year at Camp Nou. His numbers last season were very modest: three goals and one assist in 22 games (968 minutes). He played very little under both Graham Potter and Franck Lampard and was unable to perform to expectations.

Umtiti's year was much more positive. After many years of living with the bitter side of the sport, the Frenchman was back smiling in Lecce. Everything that has happened since the tears of emotion he could not hold back on his arrival in the south-eastern Italian city last summer, when he was acclaimed by the fans of the Puglia region team to which FC Barcelona loaned him, allowed the French centre-back to relive sensations and feelings he had not experienced since he won the 2018 World Cup with his national team.

His good performances gave him a certain reputation on the market and led Umtiti to agree to leave Barça on a free transfer to embark on a new professional stage at the age of 29. According to the latest reports, the defender has passed his medical with Lille and, barring a major surprise, will sign with Les Dogues in the near future. Like 'Auba', with whom he coincided in the 2021/22 season, 'Big Sam' will continue his career in Ligue 1.