Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and AC Milan on alert for Chelsea’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Barcelona, ​​Atlético Madrid and AC Milan are all on alert following Chelsea’s surprise Champions League omission of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The Spanish duo and the Italian outfit have held inquiries ahead of potential summer moves for Aubameyang, as he was left out of Chelsea’s squad for the round of 16, putting his future at Stamford Bridge in doubt.

Barcelona were keen to re-sign Aubameyang in January, following his prolific spell at Camp Nou that ended when he left to join Chelsea last summer, though those hopes were dashed by FFP’s concerns.

So were Atlético and Milan, although FIFA rules prevented him from joining either team as he couldn’t play for a different third club this season.

Aubameyang started his senior career at the San Siro and also scored home and away against Milan in this season’s Champions League group stage.

Meanwhile, his reputation and confidence in his goal-scoring qualities also remain high in Spain after his exploits last season at Barcelona, ​​joining mid-season to help them qualify for the Champions League.

Aubameyang was the surprise casualty with head coach Graham Potter only being able to register three of his January signings for the remainder of this season’s Champions League and having to drop a player from the existing squad to do so.

Since moving to Stamford Bridge in August, Aubameyang has been unable to establish himself in the Chelsea side, his form suffered along with the entire team, Kai Havertz often deployed as No. 9 in his place, and the influx of January transfers increased attacking proficiency.

Potter has praised Aubameyang’s conduct at various points this season and was keen to emphasize that “he hasn’t done anything wrong at all” as he explained the decision of his European plans.

However, the call has raised suspicions among some close to Aubameyang that Chelsea are willing to facilitate the striker’s departure in their continued attempts to build a younger team and address their salary bill.

Aubameyang joined Chelsea on an initial two-year deal, with the option of a further year, worth more than £200,000 a week.

On the decision to omit Aubameyang, who missed Friday’s draw against Fulham after he was given the weekend off and traveled to Milan, Potter said he was confident keeping him in the team for the rest of the season. it will not be a problem.

He said: ‘I don’t think it’s going to be difficult because Pierre is a professional and of course I understand that he will be disappointed. It was a difficult decision, a difficult decision. He was the one who got lost, he hasn’t done anything wrong at all.

Pierre is just unlucky and will be fighting for his place for the rest of the season.

‘He trained today [Friday], he trained very well and has the weekend off so we can report back on Monday. It’s a free world.

Whatever decision we make, there will always be a conversation about it, but it was my decision. It was an absolutely difficult decision, sometimes you have to make these calls, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with him.

‘It was difficult [telling him] because I’m an empath, so I understand their disappointment, but I have a responsibility to make these tough decisions and articulate them as honestly as possible to the player and then respect the fact that they will be disappointed.

“He’s handled it very well, he trained fantastically today, which is what I would expect.” He has been one of the best for us.

Everything is at stake. He has to keep working, train like he did today and be ready to play because football changes fast. That is the nature of the game.