Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has told of his psychological trauma after armed men broke into his home in Barcelona and attacked him in front of his family.
At least four men broke into his home in the coastal town of Castelldefels and stole jewellery, watches and a white Audi A3 just days before he joined Chelsea from Barcelona in 2022.
An attacker hit him on the chin with a metal-filled glove, breaking his jaw, and the violent episode left him with sleepless nights.
The forward, who now plays for Al-Qadsiah in the Saudi Pro League, says his two sons refuse to return to Barcelona, where they still own the house, out of fear.
He felt “lost” and had repressed mental wounds that still haunt him today, he admits in a heartbreaking interview with The Athletic.
'I was always thinking about this. I spent many nights like this: not sleeping at all, just thinking about that shit. You have some nightmares. I'm a guy who, if I don't sleep well, I'm not going to give (a soccer team) what you expect from me, I'm not going to be at my best… Every time the children are alone “They're afraid,” he said. the former Arsenal player.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has revealed his trauma after his home in Barcelona was ransacked by armed robbers in 2022.
He was at home with his wife, two children and other loved ones when at least four men burst in and threatened them with a gun.
Just days before his move from Barcelona to Chelsea, a man broke his jaw on a metal-filled glove.
“I made a mistake by not talking to anyone. If I had had someone to talk to, a therapist or a psychologist, maybe it would have helped me. But I didn't want to do anything. To tell the truth, I was lost.
'If I were alone, no problem. I can handle it because I am mentally prepared for everything in life thanks to my parents. But when you have a wife and children, it's different. After that, the children told me: “Dad, I don't want to go to school, I'm afraid that something will happen there.” For a year my little one said, “I can't sleep alone.” It was a great fight. You always have it in your mind.'
His eldest son, Curtis, who was 11 at the time, alerted him to the intruders. At that time his sister-in-law, his cousin and the latter's boyfriend were also in the property.
After telling some of them to hide, he wanted to confront the intruders with a “big bottle”, but feared for their safety after they were taken captive.
'One had the gun and told me: “Get down.” I said, “No, no, no. Tell me what you want.” We talked and he said, “Sit down.” I said, “No.” That's when he started hitting me.
'I wanted to fight, but a guy fell and took my children and my sister-in-law. At that moment I couldn't do anything. If you do something wrong, something can happen to them. We toured the house and I gave them what they wanted so that we would be well.'
Security staff hired by Barcelona were supposed to start working at the property, but were delayed by a lack of outside bathrooms.
a report of RAC1 At the time he also claimed that Aubameyang was hit with an iron bar and that his wife, Alysha Behague, suffered a blow to the head.
His children still refuse to return to Barcelona and he spent sleepless nights with truma
Barça had offered 24-hour security, but he reportedly turned it down due to his imminent departure.
His wife Alysha Behague, whom he met more than a decade ago, also suffered a blow to the head.
He now plays for Al-Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia and cites “security” as his reason for moving there.
Behague quickly alerted the police, but she and Aubemeyang refused to go to the hospital because they did not want to further frighten their children, Curtys (who was 11 at the time) and Pierre (six).
Aubemeyang and Behague have been together since he played for Saint-Etienne in France in the early 2010s.
The gang of thieves reportedly staked out Aubameyang's home for weeks while he was on a pre-season tour with Barcelona in the United States.
At that moment they tried to rob him, but an alarm dissuaded them. When Aubameyang was at home, it didn't ring. They scaled the garden fence to enter.
The ARA also reported that Babanzila Meshak, a young Gabonese footballer who played for Terrassa, a fourth division team, and who lived in Aubameyang's house, was in his house during the robbery, but unharmed.
Just days later, on 2 September, he moved to Chelsea for £10 million and took the number nine shirt, but only stayed for one season.
For the 2023-24 campaign he joined Marseille, but during the summer he moved to Al-Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia, with “security” being one of his main motivations for moving to the Middle East.
He could have stayed in European football, having scored 30 goals in all competitions last season for Marseille, but he has adapted well to Saudi life, scoring seven goals in 13 games there.
Under the tutelage of former Real Madrid and Spain midfielder Michel, Al-Qadsiah are flying in their first season back in the Saudi Pro League, sitting third in the table.