Former AC Milan director Massimiliano Mirabelli admitted that the failure to sign Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was the biggest regret of his time at San Siro, while speaking to Calciomercato.
Six months before he swapped Dortmund for North London, the Gabon international was in line for an emotional return to where it all began.
Aubameyang spent four seasons in the red and black stripes during his teenage years and, if they could turn back the clock to December 2011, you can guarantee that the Rossoneri would have second thoughts about accepting a bid from St Etienne for a little-known striker.
Because Aubameyang wasted little time in developing into one of European football’s most feared goalscorers away from the San Siro.
According to Gianluca di Marzio, Milan moved heaven and earth to bring the striker back to Italy in the summer of 2017 too, offering Dortmund a cool £55 million for his services.
The German giants said no, however; much to the disappointment of both Aubameyang and Mirabelli.
“Hesitating too much when there was the possibility of bringing Aubameyang to Milan,” the former Milan director said when asked to identify the biggest regret from his time at the seven-time European giants.
“Along with (Manchester City striker) Gabriel Jesus, he is another obsession of mine.
“When I was at Milan, for budget reasons, we had to choose whether to take Aubameyang or (Leonardo) Bonucci and (Nikola) Kalinic, who had been requested by (coach Vincenzo) Montella.
“Perhaps at that moment I should have given priority to the Arsenal striker.”
While Aubameyang would go from strength to strength at Arsenal, it is fair to say neither Bonucci nor Kalinic lived up to expectations at Milan.
The former returned to Juventus after just one ill-fated season in red and black while Kalinic scored a grand total of six goals in 41 games at the Serie A giants.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
