By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
FC Barcelona has reached an agreement with Pau Gasol offering him a contract for the remainder of the 2020-21 season, according to Mundo Deportivo. The player himself didn’t confirm the deal and added that he will make himself any announcement concerning his future via his social media.
Gasol, 40, aims to get in shape and prepare for the Olympic Games planned to take place this summer. Barca, his first pro team back in 1998 prior to his NBA jump, was among his main options, as reported by Eurohoops several months ago. He is a free agent since the Portland Trail Blazers waived him last November before he actually made his way to a single game with the Oregon organization.
The Spanish powerhouse had previously denied the reunion rumors after president Josep Maria Bartomeu shared his wish of seeing Gasol in a Barca jersey once again.
The Spanish big, widely considered among the top European players, left Barca twenty years ago, in 2001. The Barcelona-born center was selected with the third pick of the 2001 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks, who traded his draft rights to the Memphis Grizzlies. He went on to play in 1,362 NBA games between the Grizzlies, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, and San Antonio Spurs capturing a couple of championships in the process.
Injures and recovering from his most recent issue ultimately prevented him from extending his long and successful NBA career. However, the approaching Olympic Games and the chance to represent Spain in Tokyo shaped up his Barcelona comeback.
It has to be noted that according to the report of Mundo Deportivo, Gasol will not get paid from Barcelona because his wish is to get back into shape with the aim of retiring after playing one last time with the Spanish national team in Tokyo.
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