With one day to go before the start of the Endesa League, between Barça and Real Madrid, the Nikola Mirotic case has broken out. The Barça star has raised his voice to confirm that the club’s board of directors has decided to do without his services without first offering him the possibility of lowering his salary, the highest in the squad and in European basketball.
“I would have liked it to have been transmitted to me in a different way, at another time, with other people, perhaps from higher up. My agent has already sat down with them and asked. If it is an economic issue, let’s talk, let’s sit down and see if we can do something”, the Montenegrin, who still has a two-year contract, was honest in an interview for Mundo Deportivo.
The forward regrets that “at no time” have the Barcelona leaders sat down to talk about the adequacy of his salary, something that the Balkan already accepted three years ago when the pandemic affected the club’s income. “Why not do it? Why not sit down? Why not listen? Why not see how we can help each other? I am very happy in Barcelona and so is my family. Where am I going to be better?” lamented Mirotic, who received the club’s intentions “very clearly”.
For its part, Barça, which denies having terminated its star’s contract, is quite upset with the situation and with the player’s attitude just one day before the start of the Endesa League final. He denies the Montenegrin’s version and assures that he has spoken on different occasions with Mirotic and his agent to discuss a reduction in his salary, but they have always received a refusal in response. The directive aims to reduce the budget of the basketball section by 25% and the current emoluments of the Balkan have no place in the new stage.
“This comes out today but from within we have been talking for a long time. Mirotic’s response on the court has been incredible. He is involved in what he must do. We have seen his total dedication against Malaga and Valencia. He knows the difference. We are here to help everyone”, said the Barca coach, Sarunas Jasikevicius, about his still pupil
The disagreement between Mirotic and Barça arose from an economic issue, but it has also affected the player’s performance, below expectations at the most decisive moment of the season: the semifinal of the Euroleague final four against Real Madrid. The Montenegrin was signed to reign on the continent again and his three points in the European defeat against the whites have ended up being a stone for his future as a blaugrana. With Mirotic as the main star, Barça have failed in their last three attempts to rise to the continental throne, the last two against their eternal rival.
