Barcelona attacker ‘will get time’ to bid farewell to fans in Manchester City game

FC Barcelona are set to lock horns with Manchester City later this evening in a friendly at Camp Nou. It is a charity match to help raise funds for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research, which is a cause promoted by former Barça ‘keeper Juan Carlos Unzue.

A friendly being played two weeks into the new season is certain to cause some personnel changes, as far as the starting eleven is concerned. Barcelona, after all, are due to play Real Valladolid later this weekend.

With that in mind, coach Xavi Hernandez might look to ring in a few changes. According to AS, one of those changes could see Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang spearheading the Barcelona frontline, ahead of Robert Lewandowski.

However, Xavi wants to start Aubameyang not only due to sporting reasons but also because it could be the final game at Barcelona for the Gabonese international, who is poised to join Chelsea by the end of the month.

As such, Xavi wants the Barcelona fans to bid farewell to the former Borussia Dortmund starlet, who has scored 13 goals for the Blaugrana since joining the club in the January transfer window.

Following the addition of Lewandowski, Aubameyang has played only eight minutes of league football since the start of the season. With Barça having the likes of Ansu Fati, Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha out wide, the attacker’s chances of making a breakthrough are seemingly bleak.

Hence, a move away from Camp Nou appears to be the most logical option for Aubameyang. The move should make sense for Barcelona as well, as the sale will help the club bring in the desired revenue that will eventually allow them to register summer signing Jules Kounde.