Aubameyang is truly Xavi’s ‘gift from heaven’… look at his snakebite goal

“The only club I would leave Dortmund for are Real Madrid. If they don’t come calling, I don’t leave… Real Madrid is my main goal.”

Those were the words of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang five years ago to German broadcaster ZDF.

One rollercoaster stint at Arsenal and a desperate search for a new club later, the Gabonese international has instead found himself wearing the Blaugrana of Barcelona.

His most recent goal against Osasuna saw him come out of absolutely nowhere to poke home.

In the same way, after almost three months away from senior football, he has been a bolt from the blue which has helped Barcelona’s sudden drive forward.

Playing for a club he never wanted to play for, and for a manager who once didn’t like him, he has become Barcelona’s “gift from heaven.”

At least that’s what Xavi is calling him now.

Explaining what he meant by that after Barcelona’s 4-0 home win against Osasuna on Sunday, Xavi added: “He is a positive player, he has come into the dressing room very well.

“He adapts well to the team, he creates scoring chances, he scores, he presses. He is a privilege to train.”

Auba has been a privilege to watch in the Barcelona shirt as well.

Take his goal in that match for example (00:47 in the video below). It was one of those which seem totally ordinary at first glance. But the subtleties involved to make it are numerous.

@FerranTorres20 x2

@Auba

@RiquiPuig

Catch the highlights from @FCBarcelona's big win over Osasuna in #LaLigaSantander! #BarçaOsasuna pic.twitter.com/pfojix4gLD

— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) March 13, 2022

Look at the way he isolated himself from the interest of any defenders at the start. He slowly walked into the box, looking almost disinterested.

But then, suddenly, he made his