<
>

Borussia Dortmund's Aubameyang: Paris Saint-Germain tried to sign me

Borussia Dortmund attacker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has admitted that Paris Saint-Germain tried to sign him during the summer transfer window but that talks "ended quickly."

The Gabon international said that the French champions made contact in their unsuccessful search to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic but he stayed with Thomas Tuchel's men because of their lack of negotiating skills.

"Yes, they happened," Aubameyang confirmed to RMC radio's Team Duga show with former player Christophe Dugarry when asked if talks happened over the summer.

"They ended quickly though. Not because I did not want to join PSG but because they handled things poorly.

"PSG have already tried several times over the past few years and nothing has changed and my father [who takes care of his son's interests] often gets cut out [of talks].

Aubameyang said that the "massive difference" between Dortmund's valuation of him and PSG's was a problem when the Ligue 1 giants showed an interest in him in the past but that the biggest issue this summer was Les Parisiens' failure to speak with the player's father.

"I had said for things to go through my father and that PSG should speak with him but in the end they went straight to Dortmund," Aubameyang said. "Of course Dortmund closed to door to a possible move."

Much has been made of PSG's unclear strategy on the transfer market since the departure of sporting director Leonardo back in 2013.

Aubameyang himself suggested that the summer talks could have ended very differently if the men from the French capital had somebody in that designated role.

"Maybe. In fact, I am sure," the 27-year-old said. "When there is a sporting director, things are clearer. It may be that in this case, it would have been better if they had a sporting director..."

Olivier Letang has been PSG's assistant sporting director since Leonardo's departure but nobody has officially filled the void since.

Former Netherlands international Patrick Kluivert was appointed as director of football this summer but still does not appear to have clear control over transfer matters.