AC Milan sporting director Massimiliano Mirabelli has revealed that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could not secure his return to San Siro as Borussia Dortmund were not keen on his sale.
The Rossoneri spent over €230 million on 11 players over the summer with most of their business done prior to the new season.
Aubameyang had been keen on making a return to the Rossoneri, where he began his professional career, but Borussia Dortmund took him off the transfer market accusing the San Siro outfit of showing a lack of respect.
Speaking in a Facebook live session on the club’s official page, Mirabelli confirmed that the Gabon international had wanted to return to the Rossoneri, but Borussia Dortmund ‘struggled to allow him to leave’, he said: “He’s a great player and he wanted to come to Milan, but there are some weddings which you just can’t arrange. Dortmund struggled to allow him to leave and that is what happened, but he is still a great player.”
Meanwhile, there was the talk of Aubameyang of leaving Dortmund on transfer deadline day, but the striker allayed fears by posting a photograph outside of a private jet, with the caption: “Doesn’t matter where I fly because I’m always back in Dortmund at the end.”
While the Rossoneri could not negotiate a deal for Aubameyang, they did finalise a move for Portugal’s Andre Silva and Mirabelli expects big things from the former Porto marksman, he added: “He’s certainly going to be one of the best in the world in the coming years. He’s a very important, young player, but like all Portuguese, he needs a bit of time to settle in and adapt.”
AC Milan have made a strong start to the new season with two victories in their opening two games, but they still have a long way to go in order to potentially challenge Juventus for the Serie A crown.