Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ‘may join LAFC to replace Gareth Bale’ after Chelsea Champions League axe

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s future at Chelsea is under increasing scrutiny after manager Graham Potter left him out of the team’s Champions League squad, and a move to Major League Soccer could be in the offing. horizon.

Aubameyang only joined Chelsea in September, but after Chelsea owner Todd Boehly bankrolled a $400m spending spree on new players in the January transfer window, he was pushed down the pecking order and he was left out of the London team’s 25-player Champions League roster.

According Spanish sports portal RelevoMLS champion LAFC could now make a move to sign the 33-year-old.

LAFC is looking for a star to join its roster after the retirement of Gareth Bale in the offseason. Bale only played one year in MLS, but he led his team to MLS Cup glory, scoring a dramatic equalizer in the 128th minute before his team won on penalties.

Furthermore, with the transfer window closed in Europe, Aubameyang faces the simple choice of moving to Major League Soccer or staying at Chelsea and not playing as much as he would like.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang faces an uncertain future at Chelsea, months after signing

He was left out of Chelsea’s 25-man Champions League after several big signings in January.

Gareth Bale retired in the offseason, but helped LAFC win the MLS Cup in his time in California

Aubameyang has already played for two teams this season: he made one appearance for Barcelona in La Liga in a 0-0 draw with Rayo Vallecano in August before moving to Chelsea.

Soccer’s governing body, FIFA, states that players can only play for two teams in a season, but MLS offers a loophole for Aubameyang as their 2023 season is what’s considered “an overlapping season” due to which started in February.

‘Players can be registered with a maximum of three clubs during a season. During this period, the player is only eligible to play official matches for two clubs,” says FIFA. ‘As an exception to this rule, a player moving between two clubs belonging to associations with overlapping seasons (i.e. summer/fall season start instead of winter/spring) may be eligible to play in official matches for a third club during the corresponding season.

Aubameyang has played 17 times for Chelsea this season, scoring three goals, the latest of which came in October against AC Milan in the Champions League.

Chelsea manager Potter has admitted he had to make a bold decision over who would be included in his 25-man Champions League squad after the club made several high-profile signings in January.

“Pierre is a professional and of course I understand he will be disappointed,” Potter said.

“It was a tough call, a tough call, we had three come in and two had to come out, so he was the one that missed.” He hasn’t done anything wrong at all.

“It’s hard because I’m an empath, so I understand his disappointment, but I have a responsibility to make these tough decisions and then articulate them as honestly as possible to the player, and then respect the fact that he’s going to 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.

Aubameyang only joined Chelsea in September and has played 17 times for the club so far.

Graham Potter praised Aubameyang’s professionalism after his Champions League hack

LAFC’s new season in MLS -without Bale- starts on February 25 against the Los Angeles Galaxy

LAFC kicks off their Major League Soccer season on February 25 at ‘El Traffico’ against their cross-town rival, the Los Angeles Galaxy.

LAFC’s success last season means it will also play in the CONCACAF Champions League in 2023, beginning with a round of 16, home-and-away tie against Costa Rica’s Alajuelense in March.

For Aubameyang and Chelsea, the next game is on Saturday against West Ham in London.