Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been linked with a sensational return to Italy in recent weeks as a disastrous second spell in London with Chelsea looks set to come to a premature end. 

Aubameyang began his professional career in the red and white of Milan over 15 years ago, although did not register a competitive appearance for the Rossoneri during his spell at San Siro as a teenager. 

However, Pierre-Emerick is not the first Aubameyang to have turned out for Milan over the years. 

In fact, he was the fourth and most recent member of his family to have had a shot at a playing career in Italy. 

It all began with the patriarch of the family, Pierre Aubameyang, the father of Pierre-Emerick and his half brothers, who had a short spell with Triestina over the 1996-97 season. 

It wasn’t to be known at the time how influential that short spell in Italy would be or what effect it would have for his family in the future. 

The next Aubameyang to ply their trade in Italy was Catilina, Pierre-Emerick’s half brother, who signed for Milan’s youth team in the summer of the year 2000. 

Catilina Aubameyang would go on to graduate from the junior side in 2002 and went on to make one appearance for the Rossoneri in Serie A, starting and playing 61 minutes in the 4-2 win over Piacenza in 2003. 

Catilina spent four years on the Rossoneri’s books with the majority of that time being spent on loan, most notably with his father’s former side Triestina in 2003-04. 

Then was the turn of Willy Aubameyang, who similarly signed on for the Rossoneri youth division in 2004. 

He became a member of the senior squad in 2007 but also failed to register a single senior appearance before being shipped out on loan on three occasions and eventually departed for Scottish side Kilmarnock on a permanent deal in 2011. 

Then finally came the turn of the most famous Aubameyang to date, Pierre-Emerick, who joined Milan in 2007, although did not represent the senior side in any competitive fixtures. 

With his spell at Chelsea falling apart after the dismissal of Thomas Tuchel back in September and now having been left out of the Champions League squad for the remainder of the season, there are reports that the Londoners could look to terminate Aubameyang’s contract prematurely. 

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Aubameyang still has plenty of admiration for the city and also has family members still in Milan including his brothers and nephews, testament to his father’s influence when he played for Triestina all those years ago. 

Recent reports have been tying the 33-year-old with a move back to the city of Milan, although on this occasion, it could be to join the blue and black of Inter.

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