PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG has revealed why he chose lowly Gabon over an international career with France.
The 28-year-old Arsenal striker has scored 23 goals in 56 appearances for the Gabon national team despite being born in Laval, France.
The former Borussia Dortmund and Milan star boasts 199 goals in 402 domestic appearances since making his club debut in 2008.
That sort of form would likely have earned him immediate selection for the France national side.
But Aubameyang explained why he close not to play for Les Bleus.
“Players often take their time to consider their options and make the right choice, but for me the choice was clear,” Aubameyang told Arsenal’s website.
“I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps. He was captain of the national side in the past, I could well have chosen to play for France or Spain.
“I played for the French under-21 team, but I realised very quickly that in my heart I wanted to emulate my father.”
Pierre Francois Aubameyang, nicknamed ‘Yaya’, made 80 appearances for Gabon between 1985 and 1998 and it was that which inspired his son to wear the yellow jersey years later.
The striker was also eligible to represent Spain through his mother.
France and Spain are not the only national teams Aubameyang turned down, rejecting the chance to play for Italy under-19s in 2009.
Gabon are currently place 95 in the FIFA rankings and have never qualified for a World Cup finals.
He is joined in the current squad by two other Premier League players – Southampton’s Mario Lemina and Watford’s Didier NDong.
Source:www.express.co.uk