Arsenal and Barcelona agreed a deal to take Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to the Camp Nou on deadline day, despite a strong warning from manager Xavi Hernandez.
Aubameyang flew into the Catalan capital on Monday in a surprise development to both clubs, whom are yet to formally confirm the transfer.
The Gabonese striker has suffered an alarming fall from grace in North London having been stripped of the club captaincy and ostracised by boss Mikel Arteta.
The main sticking point in the negotiations was the percentage of the player’s £350k-per-week wages being covered by each club, although Aubameyang has since agreed a pay cut.
Yet Barca boss Xavi Hernandez had already sent a warning to the club against signing the striker as he believed it would be a bad fit.
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Aubameyang has been linked with a switch to the Camp Nou multiple times in recent years and Xavi has previously voiced his opposition to any deal.
Having previously been in charge at Qatari club Al Sadd prior to his move to Barca in November – replacing the sacked Ronald Koeman – Xavi has frequently given his thoughts on what type of players suit the Blaugrana.
Two players who Xavi insisted would not be a good fit at the Camp Nou would be Aubameyang and Liverpool forward Sadio Mane – also previously linked to the club.
Xavi previously explained why Barca should not hold an interest in signing either player: "Mane and Aubemayang can kill you in open space.
"But Barcelona need players who know how to move in small spaces.
"I am thinking about players who would adapt to Barcelona and it’s not easy to find one. Samuel Eto’o was perfect as is Luis Suarez right now."
When pressed on which forward would be the best suited to joining Barca, Xavi opted to select his former club teammate Neymar.
He added: "Football-wise, he is among the three or five best in the world. I hope that he returns to Barcelona. He was his teammate. He would add a lot.
"A positive character. It would be an extraordinary signing to become a difference-maker."
Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are now the only other recognised senior strikers in Arsenal's squad, following the loan exit of Folarin Balogun to Middlesbrough earlier this month.
Balogun is one of five players to exit the first-team squad this month with Ainsley Maitland-Niles joining Roma on loan and Pablo Mari making a temporary move to Udinese, while Callum Chambers and Sead Kolasinac joined Aston Villa and Marseille respectively on free transfers.
Aubameyang scored 92 goals for Arsenal in 163 appearances for the club following his January 2018 arrival from Borussia Dortmund, including seven goals in 15 outings this campaign.
