Dortmund: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang said on Sunday that he was the subject of a big-money offer from China, but his club Borussia Dortmund insist he will not leave this season.
Aubameyang, who is under contract until 2020, confirms in Sunday’s edition of Die Welt that there was an offer from an unnamed Chinese club, but Dortmund have said he will not leave in 2017/18.
The 28-year-old had been linked to China’s Tianjin Quanjin, who last month signed French striker Anthony Modeste from Dortmund’s rivals Cologne in a deal reportedly worth 35 million euros (Dh151.4 million).
“Yes, I had an offer. But I think the Chinese were hard pressed to submit a bid to Borussia Dortmund,” said Aubameyang.
“I think the structures are still not as professional as in Europe.”
And the Gabon international admits he was tempted.
“It is normal that you think about it, if so much money is offered,” he said.
“I know that many people have said that you cannot go to China, because the football (there) is a step back.
“But I think that anybody would think about it when he gets such an offer.”
The Gabon hotshot, the Bundesliga’s top scorer last season with 31 goals, scored in Saturday’s German Super Cup home defeat to Bayern Munich.
Dortmund lost 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out after it finished 2-2 over 90 minutes before Marc Bartra had his crucial spot-kick saved in the pre-season showdown.
Christian Pulisic’s early goal for Dortmund was cancelled out by Robert Lewandowski.
Aubameyang restored Dortmund’s lead with 19 minutes left before Lukasz Piszczek’s late own goal took the match straight to penalties.
Ex-Barcelona defender Bartra, the only player badly injured in April’s bomb attack on the Dortmund team bus, saw the 12th spot-kick saved to hand Bayern the cup for the second year running.
Both Bayern’s Joshua Kimmich and Dortmund’s Sebastian Rode had their penalties saved in the shoot-out until Bartra’s shot was blocked by Sven Ulreich.
“It was a deserved victory,” Ulreich said.
