Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s second go-round in Marseille is officially over. The club confirmed Friday night that the Gabonese striker is leaving for Deportivo La Coruña, a move that helps OM trim its wage bill and clears the way for Aubameyang to start fresh in Spain’s second division.
The transfer fee is around €1.5 million, according to multiple reports. Not exactly a blockbuster return on a player who was once one of the most dangerous finishers in Europe. But for a 37-year-old striker who hasn’t been as sharp in front of goal lately, it’s a deal that works for everyone involved.
This was always going to be a tough follow-up to his first stint at Marseille. During that initial run, Aubameyang was individually brilliant even while the team cratered around him. He scored goals, created chances, and generally looked like the only guy on the pitch who knew where the net was. But OM’s collective disaster of a season made it hard to appreciate what he was doing.
His second spell was similar in frustrating ways, just with more rust. He was less clinical this time around. Part of that was on him — he missed chances he’d have buried a few years ago — and part of it was circumstance. With Amine Gouiri sidelined by injury, Aubameyang played way too many minutes for a guy his age. You could see the fatigue in his finishing.
But he still had moments. His brace at home against Lyon was vintage Aubameyang — the quick turns, the cold finish, the snarl after the ball hit the net. It reminded everyone what he used to do for a living. It just didn’t happen often enough.
Marseille needed to cut costs. That’s the reality of their financial situation. Aubameyang’s salary was a big number on the books, and Deportivo was willing to take it on. The deal makes sense for a club trying to rebuild its payroll. And for Aubameyang, it’s a chance to play regularly without the weight of being the guy expected to carry a top-tier club.
Deportivo La Coruña isn’t the powerhouse it was two decades ago. They’re in the Segunda División now, trying to claw their way back up. Aubameyang won’t be the fastest guy on the field, but he’ll probably still be one of the smartest. In that league, with his experience, he could be a problem for defenders.
The whole thing leaves a weird taste. Aubameyang’s time at Marseille had genuine highs — the kind of individual performances that get you highlights packages and fan love. But it also had long stretches where he looked like a guy running on fumes. Now he’s off to Spain for a new chapter, and Marseille moves on with a lighter payroll and one less aging star to manage.
That brace against Lyon was a solid last memory for OM fans. At least he went out swinging.
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