Borussia Dortmund blast AC Milan over Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang interest as Chelsea also miss out on Bundesliga megastar
Germans no longer willing to sell star striker after internal deadline passed but are still fuming at Milan's public call
BORUSSIA DORTMUND have blasted AC Milan for showing a lack of “respect” in their failed pursuit of Chelsea target Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The striker was being chased by a number of elite European teams after another barnstorming season in Germany.
But Dortmund revealed on Tuesday that a deadline to sign Aubameyang had passed and he will now be staying put ahead of the new Bundesliga campaign.
Chelsea were reportedly keen on snapping up the Gabon international, who finished top scorer with 31 league goals last term.
But Milan looked to be the most serious contenders following their takeover by a super-rich Chinese consortium.
Boss Vincenzo Montello made no secret of his admiration for Aubameyang before Milan’s pre-season defeat to Dortmund the other day.
But the German club’s CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke believes his Italian counterparts did not go about their business in the right manner, especially with the player still contracted to Dortmund.
Explaining that neither Chelsea or Milan had actually made a substantial offer, Watzke said: “At one point, Borussia Dortmund needed planning security.
Chelsea transfer news
“And in spite of that it can’t be that sporting directors of other clubs say in public that they would also like to sign him, like it happened with AC Milan.
“That’s no sign of respect. And thus, it was time to make a statement.”
Chelsea are now believed to be targeting Real Madrid star Alvaro Morata, with Milan aiming for Torino ace Andrea Belotti.
