By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Reviewing the current status and attached restrictions of FC Barcelona, team president Joan Laporta insisted on building a strong team for the 2023-24 season.
“The organization is the most important. We can’t maintain the budget at 40 million euros,” he underlined in an interview on Esport3 Thursday, “It is not about generating more income, but instead reducing wages.”
Apparently, the budget cuts pushed both Nikola Mirotic and Sarunas Jasikevicius to exit from the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague participant.
“In the case of Niko, we found ourselves carrying an unsustainable contract,” mentioned Laporta, “We are in talks to somehow redirect this high salary.”
“With Saras, he was kind to us and Barca will always be his home. I had a good relationship with him,” added the Barcelona president, “But the organization is above players, coaches, and everybody else.”
Replacing the Lithuanian tactician, Roger Grimau was named head coach of the Catalonia giant.
“Barca can’t be put against the ropes in negotiations,” shared Laporta on discussions with Jasikevicius, “At the end of the day, we decided renewing his contract was not the best for us from a basketball and financial standpoint.”
Following, he projected the budget for the 2023-24 season.
“We are going to have a budget of around 30 million euros,” revealed Laporta, “A significant sum. Many players will want to join our team.”
The 2022-23 ACB champions will be looking to defend the title at the domestic level, besides seeking the third EuroLeague championship in team history.