By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
EuroLeague CEO Jordi Bertomeu revealed that French club ASVEL Villeurbanne is a “major candidate” to join the top-tier European competition when a decision will taken for the league to increase its clubs in the future.
“Provided that all requirements are met, ASVEL is a major candidate for EuroLeague when we expand it,” Bertomeu said in an interview with Progress. “We want a French team in EuroLeague in the future. We talk a lot with Tony Parker and Gaetan Muller. We know their project and that ASVEL has a great tradition. Lyon and Villeurbanne is a big market for us. There are two aspects that make their project special: The new hall and their academy which is unique. Very innovative and social.”
Tony Parker has expressed his ambition to have ASVEL playing in EuroLeague time and again since he assumed ownership and became president back in 2014. In March 2017, his friend, longtime teammate in the French national team and fellow NBAer Nicolas Batum joined forces with him by becoming a shareholder and Director of Basketball Operations in the club.
During this season’s French League Finals, Parker stated that he wants to see the team being a part of EuroLeague in two years.
It will definitely not happen any sooner since Bertomeu mentioned that, “It’s possible but not decided yet. It’s clear that this won’t take place until after the following season.”
There are currently 16 teams participating in EuroLeague. 11 (Anadolu Efes, Barcelona, Baskonia, CSKA Moscow, Fenerbahce, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Olimpia Milano, Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, Real Madrid and Zalgiris Kaunas) clubs have signed ten-year closed contracts, one spot is reserved for each season’s EuroCup (the second-tier continental league) winner while teams from the Spanish, German League, ABA and VTB League can join via success in their respective championships.
Apart from the French Pro A League, ASVEL is also competing in EuroCup this season.