There has not been a team like Spain in which Ricky Rubio has felt more at home. The Family has given it everything and vice versa. In Badalona he was too young. He didn’t have time to take root at Barça. And in the NBA, with a suitcase always packed, there is no place to build great bonds. So, what initially came as a surprise is not so much if you take all the factors into account. After two weeks training with Barça, Ricky will formalize his return to the courts with the Spanish national team next week, in the first qualifying period for Eurobasket 2025, which will be played in Latvia, Cyprus, Finland and poland
The surprise came at noon yesterday in Madrid, where Sergio Scariolo announced the list of 14 players called up to play in next week’s two qualifiers, the 22nd in Zaragoza against Latvia and the 25th against Belgium in Charleroi. The absence due to physical reasons of players such as Sergio Llull, Lorenzo Brown or Willy Hernangómez was in the background when the name of Ricky Rubio broke out among the 14 summoned.
“We have been in permanent contact since this summer. Three days ago he told me that he would like his first official match to be with the national team so that he can establish a special bond with me and the team. It was very exciting when he told me, something very emotional”, explained the coach after the announcement. It should not be forgotten that in August, when he was concentrating on the selection for the World Cup in Indonesia, the Philippines and Japan, the base of Masnou announced that he was putting basketball on hold to face a process of recovery from the problems mental problems he suffered from
From Barça, with whom he has been training for two weeks and with whom he has already signed a contract until the end of the season without a debut date, they consider that his reappearance with Spain before with the club is part of the normal process of recovery and that it was a possibility that was foreseen by both parties.
Scariolo’s announcement confirms what had transpired from the Palau, that Ricky looks very good in training and is eager to try again. Despite everything, it was concluded that reappearing this week in a tournament with as much media impact as the Copa del Rey was not the best option and it was preferred to opt for international matches so that the player feels as comfortable as possible. In addition, with three passports for the Eurobasket to be distributed among the four teams in Spain’s group, the stage is perfect for their return.
If all goes well with the national team, Ricky Rubio is expected to wear the Barça shirt again in a couple of weeks.
