Borussia Dortmund chief mocks Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang over lack of Champions League football
Borussia Dortmund's CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has taken a swipe at Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - suggesting his move to Arsenal was motivated by money.
With the Gunners now in their third consecutive Europa League campaign, the Westfalenstadion boss believes the former Dortmund forward will be 'saddened' he is not playing in the Champions League.
The Gabon international sealed a £56million move to the Premier League in January 2018 having been sanctioned three times by the German club in the year before over disciplinary issues.
Watzke told Suddeutsche Zeitung: "Of course it is hard to keep a player in the face of such sums.
"Some go to clubs because of this money, where they have not played Champions League for years.
"[Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang, who plays great at Arsenal, will probably be warm-hearted when he looks at his bank account, but on Wednesdays will be saddened when he has to watch the Champions League on television."
Aubameyang has been a revelation at the Emirates and boasts some of the best stats of any marksman since his arrival.
In 73 games for the Gunners in all competitions, Aubameyang has scored 49 goals and registered 12 assists.
He has also scored the joint most goals since his arrival (39) - no player in the Premier League has scored more in that time.
Aubameyang clearly took umbrage with Watzke's comments, hitting back at the Dortmund chief on Thursday.
He wrote on social media platform Twitter: "Better for you I never talk about why I really left Dortmund Mr Watzke you such a clown I remember that time you said we never gonna sell Ousmane [Dembele] then you saw more than 100M you were the first to take that money don’t talk about money please!!! Leave me alone pls"