Italian outlet Passione Inter today features an interview with Patrice Neveu, manager of the Gabon national team.
Even though they first asked him a question about how has his side been doing, there was another clear interest for this chat: Pierre Emerick Aubameyang.
The Arsenal striker has been named as one of the targets that Inter Milan have for the summer window, and Passione Inter wanted to know the manager’s take on the striker’s future.
Neveu, who claims to know Aubameyang pretty well, says it should all depend on the renewal offer that Arsenal are making.
“Since he left Saint-Etienne in 2013, first at Dortmund and then at Arsenal, he has had steady growth. His performance regularity and statistics are impressive. I believe, however, that Arsenal must first make their position clear. He’s the captain, the numbers and the goals speak for themselves. Certainly a player is always dependent on the collective, but Pierre has scored almost half of Arsenal’s goals in the league. The Gunners are among the biggest European clubs in Europe, although this season, for many reasons, the team has not performed well.
“Despite this, Pierre with his 17 goals is still in the running to be top scorer. His father Pierre François, a former Gabon national team player, is a highly experienced man and is also his adviser. Together they always knew how to make the right decisions, they always chose together when to stay at a club and when it was the right time to change. The decision will inevitably depend on the possible proposal by Arsenal.”
The manager says he has a good relationship with Aubameyang and his father, but that doesn’t mean he’ll reveal their secrets.
“Yes, I often talk to him and his father. I’m obviously interested in his intentions on his future, but all of this remains strictly confidential. This is a very delicate issue, for my part I am sure he will play for a great European club.”
Regarding the Inter Milan rumours, Neveu not only said that Aubameyang is capable of succeeding in Serie A, but also claimed that Antonio Conte would be making the right choice by signing him.
“Obviously he could easily play in a league like the Italian one. Football in Italy rhymes with high level, passion, fervour of the fans, the media that cultivate a competitive spirit and much more… in short, everything Pierre Emerick needs.”
“He has made a name for himself in France, Germany and England: he has worked hard to overcome these challenges. He knows what he wants well and prepares himself in a maniacal way from every point of view, starting from feeding and maintaining his physique. I’m superstitious and I don’t want to bring him bad luck, but I hope he will face another full season, yet another.
“Pierre combines agility, running speed, flexibility. All these qualities, when added to a solid defence, allow him to hurt any opponent. He also knows how to exploit the qualities of attack partners to create holes and opportunities. If Steven Zhang and Antonio Conte put him at the top of the list, I have no doubt that Conte himself would turn him into a real machine.”
