Thomas Heurtel will not play for FC Barcelona again. The player was informed following an emergency meeting held this morning in Paris by sporting director Mario Fernández and coach Joan Peñarroya. The Biterrois had already arrived in Barcelona accompanied by his wife and two of his three children, from Shenzhen, China.
It was the president of the sports club Joan Laporta who provoked this incredible about-face after having apparently heard the hostility of the supporters who did not forgive Heurtel for having “betrayed” them during his first visit to Catalonia.
Thomas Heurtel gave his version of events during a press conference this afternoon in a Barcelona hotel, in the presence of his agent, David Carro, director of Octagon Basketball Europe.
“They contacted us. It was a normal conversation with a club that wanted to sign a player. Documents are exchanged about the situation. On Monday he receives another offer, but Heurtel speaks with Barça and even with the coach” , says David Carro. “We had to speed up everything because there were other options, but Barça said no: the chosen one is Heurtel. We closed a discussion with Joan Peñarroya on Tuesday and the coach told us that he wanted us to arrive, so much so that the same afternoon we sent them the updated passport for the flights. There was no problem in the contract.
Heurtel was very enthusiastic and it was not a monetary question. The money that was on the table was what was left after Raúl Neto's dismissal. But we had to wait for Neto to be cut before making way for the signing (…) He took the kids out of school, put them on a plane for 15 hours and all they knew was their arrived that there was a problem. It’s a decision that comes from above and does not depend on the sports management or the coach.”
“This is an unusual event. The player and his family are on a plane and we cannot contact them. Additionally, my communications with the club indicated that they were going to meet the various parties. Yesterday (January 2) everything was fine well. Nothing was going to be canceled but a professional player came with his family and he is there because the club wanted him to be.
Thomas Heurtel:
“I don't think history repeats itself (Editor's note: Thomas Heurtel was left alone at Istanbul airport in 2021 after a match, after Barça learned that he was in negotiations with Real Madrid). When they left me in Istanbul, it wasn't the club, it was a person who decided. Someone who scared everyone. I was very excited to come, I think it was a second chance for both parties and it could have helped a Barça which is not doing well this year. Everyone was excited, me first and foremost, at the idea of redirecting my career to a big club like Barça. I land and receive this sad news.”
“When I landed, I was very happy to be here. We are returning to a city and a club where I thought I would retire, before Saras (Jasekevicius) arrived. I had bought a house and we were going to live here. We were happy to come back.”
“I spoke with Juan Carlos Navarro (the sporting director) a day or two ago. He sent me a message saying he was very happy with my arrival, eager to see if the two sides were on board. agreement to grow the team Obviously, I discussed with them (his future teammates) to find out how I was going to join the group. They wanted me to arrive as soon as possible. saying how happy they were at my arrival.”
“I didn't speak to anyone from Barça today. I don't think I should speak to them. Peñarroya (Joan Peñarroya, the coach) called me to apologize. He told me that the decisions did not depend on of him and that he was delighted with my arrival.”
“The first time was in Istanbul, there was a lot of talk about this situation, a lot of things that were wrong. This time it's worse because I was with my family, I moved with my children and my wife . I feel like someone made fun of me. It’s a huge lack of respect.”
“I don't think much about the future, but only about today. Then we will see what happens. I will return home to Spain and then we will think about my future, whether I continue playing or not. These things disappoint you a little as far as business is concerned.”
