Because he was negotiating with Madrid ?: Barça suspends professional at Istanbul airport

Wednesday December 23, 2020

Because he was negotiating with Madrid?
Barça suspends professional at Istanbul Airport

Thomas Heurtel wants to leave FC Barcelona, ​​the club allows him to travel to Istanbul for negotiations. There the team plays in the basketball Euroleague anyway – but the return trip together is flat. The reason should be simultaneous negotiations with the arch rival.

The French basketball star Thomas Heurtel was left behind by his club FC Barcelona in an almost unbelievable posse at Istanbul Airport, triggering a public protest by the ABP players' union. "Isn't there at least a bit of humanity?" Asked the ABP after the little drama just before Christmas.

Heurtel had flown with Barcelona to the Euroleague game at Anadolu Efes (79:86). After consultation with his club, the 31-year-old playmaker in Turkey should not play against his old club, but rather negotiate a change with top club Fenerbahce Istanbul there. On site, however, according to the Spanish media, the Barca executives learned that the 75-time international was also in contract talks with arch-rival Real Madrid – and refused Heurtel to take the team back after the game on Tuesday evening.

The Catalans took off for Catalonia, and Heurtel was left behind at the airport, helpless and without a plan. "At midnight a player was left in a strange city," the players' union said indignantly on Twitter. Barcelona commented on the incident on Wednesday afternoon. In a statement with five sub-items, it is initially said that Heurtel was "allowed" to travel to Istanbul for negotiations.

However, since these failed and the playmaker was not subject to the hygiene regulations of the Euroleague, the club had ordered that he "did not travel back with the group". However, Heurtel had not been left behind, but had "received a hotel, a plane ticket and all the necessary documents to return to Barcelona the next day". No leaving behind at the airport – instead, "his future should be clarified in the coming days".

Heurtel has played for FC Barcelona since 2017, won the Spanish Cup with the Catalans in 2018 and 2019 and was named the most valuable player of the tournament. Last year, the French international and 2013 European champions signed with the Catalans for two more years. However, given the latest events, it seems unimaginable that the option agreed upon for the 2021/22 season will be drawn.