BARCELONA, 15 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Former basketball player Pau Gasol commented that his former teammate in the national team and in Barça Nikola Mirotic will want to finish his stage, as soon as the time comes, as a blaugrana player with titles and with this Endesa League whose Playoff final, in a Clásico, begins this Friday at the Palau Blaugrana.
Speaking to Europa Press, Pau Gasol qualified that the statements made this Thursday at the presentation of his summer campus, the Pau Gasol Academy by Santander, about the possible termination of Nikola Mirotic’s contract were made thinking that it was an official announcement.
“The ‘timing’ of the news is not the most appropriate but it is what it is, it is what it is, and you have to face it. His level of play in this Playoff has been very good and he will want to continue playing at a high level against a former team and finish his stage at Barça with the League title”, Gasol said about this possible departure of Mirotic, thinking that it was already done and it was official.
Gasol, who assures this Agency that he has not spoken with Nikola Mirotic or with anyone at the club on this subject, pointed out before learning that FC Barcelona denies and denies the termination of Mirotic’s contract that it would not be “favorable” news for the Barça just before the start of the acb final.
“It is not something that is favorable a priori but it is something that the team can use as extra motivation. Both Niko and the team want to finish the stage in the best way, winning a title. I am sure that Niko wants it that way. It would be good that his teammates supported him and that they won the title for them. It is a delicate moment that must be accepted, and try to motivate and affect the team in a positive way and not become a distraction that gives Real Madrid an advantage”, argued the from Sant Boi.
“It is a consequence of the economic situation and economic reality of the club and the national team. A very big bet was made for Niko, an extraordinary contract in Europe to date, a time has come when a decision has to be made difficult, safe, for player and club. The thing is how this decision is announced, it is not the right time and I hope it does not affect the team to have the best chance of winning the final”, reiterated, in this sense, the now ambassador from Barcelona.
Regarding the final itself, he believes that it is a new Clásico in an acb final “full of incentives”. “I’m going to live it in a special way with my collaboration with Movistar, commenting on the first and third games. I’m going to try to add my point of view. We’ll see which team is better, the two fill in good shape. Perhaps the challenge lies with a Barça a little more, trying to put outside noise and distractions a bit to one side and wanting to end the season by winning a title,” he added.