Controversy: Abandoned in a parking lot in Istanbul
The point guard
Thomas Heurtel
, who dissociated himself from Barça in a convulsive way in January, has signed for
ASVEL Villeurbanne
until the end of the season, the French club reported in a statement.
The
31-year-old
Heurtel,
who has since been without a team, will thus resume his career at ASVEL, in which the goal is to win the League and Cup titles, as he
cannot play in the Euroleague
.
European champion in 2013 along with players like Tony Parker, he returns to ASVEL, where he was already a member of ten years ago, before playing in Spain at Meridiano Alicante, Baskonia and Barça, where he had been since 2017.
Barça and Heurtel terminated their contractual relationship that bound them until June 30, 2022, although the last agreed season (2021-22) was optional.
After the player does not count for the Barcelona coach, Lithuanian Sarunas Jasikevicius, the matter got out of hand
when Heurtel asked to
travel to Istanbul, when the Catalan team played against Anadolu and he was not summoned to negotiate with Fenerbahce and
is found out that he was actually negotiating with Real Madrid
.
Abandoned in a parking lot in Istanbul
All this generated a discomfort between the Barça club, who had felt betrayed, and the player, who was separated from the team and forced to return from Istanbul outside the discipline of the Barça team.
Barça knew that time was working in their favor.
He did not reach an agreement with Heurtel before the Euroleague registration window closed (January 6) and the Frenchman, who was training alone,
needs minutes to be able to play with the French team in the next Olympic Games
, which will surely be the last to be played.
Parker, president of ASVEL, indicated that "it is a great pleasure to welcome Thomas until the end of the season."
"
He did not hesitate to make great financial sacrifices to join us
. This is a great sign of confidence, that ASVEL is a true reference for the best French basketball players," he said.
"We have seen with the French team how happy Thomas is to be able to play basketball. He is very motivated to finish the year strong and will be a true leader who will help us win titles on the national scene," said Parker.
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