Everything seemed ready for his big return to Barça. But Thomas Heurtel saw his transfer fly away. “I spoke with the coach and with (sporting director Juan Carlos) Navarro, it was a second chance for both sides. I landed here and received this information. It's sad“, regretted the Basketball player during a press conference, organized at the Barcelona hotel where he had been staying since his arrival to carry out his medical examination.
Thomas Heurtel, 35, had already played for FC Barcelona between 2017 and 2021.The first time they left me in Istanbul, now it's worse because I came with my family. This is a huge lack of respect.“, Heurtel continued, pointing out that coach Joan Peñarroya called him to apologize for the situation.
Heurtel was referring to an incredible scene dating back to December 2020 in the Turkish city where the player, who was then playing for Barcelona, was refused to board the return plane after a Euroleague match because the Catalan club criticized him of having secretly negotiated his departure to Real Madrid, the hated great rival.
The only explanation given by the club is due to a problem of “social repercussions”, in reference to the anger of the supporters who did not want the leader to return to the team, declared the player's agent, David Carro.
According to the daily Sports WorldBarça president Joan Laporta, initially in favor of re-engaging the playmaker under the Blaugrana colors, suddenly changed his mind in the last few hours, following numerous protests.
“If at a club as big as Barça, the excuse is that they were busy with other things; if there are no professional people in the upper echelons of the club to manage things, it's a really big problem“David Carro glared.
“Barça will not sign Heurtel as the club studies other, more interesting offers“, sources close to the club had previously told AFP, ensuring that no agreement had been reached with the player.
The day before, the Spanish media announced the news of his probable return to the Catalan club. And it is from China that the one who until now wore the colors of Shenzhen, landed this Friday morning in Barcelona. And this, while “we warned the player's agent before the trip that the signing would not take place”, sources close to Barça told AFP, suggesting that in doing so he was trying to put the pressure to be recruited.
He was preparing to return to the Euroleague
Welcomed by Catalan media at El Prat airport, the former French international (99 caps) said to himself:very happy“to return to Barcelona and”more than ready and motivated“to the idea”to start“.
He was preparing to return to the Euroleague with the Catalan club, in difficulty this season (11th). He had not played in the most prestigious European basketball competition since the fall of 2022, after signing for Zenit Saint Petersburg.
His two years spent at the Zénith notably deprived him of the French team. According to the French Basketball Federation (FFBB), he went against a sworn certificate signed in the summer of 2022 where he committed, after the invasion of Ukraine by Russia , not to join a Russian or Belarusian club. After the termination of his contract by the Catalan club, he joined Asvel for six months before signing with Real Madrid then Saint Petersburg.
