Madrid signs the most unexpected coach in history

BarcelonaA desperate Real Madrid, after closing a season in which they have spent more money in their history than ever before, has decided to make a surprising change of course. The white club will dismiss Sergio Scariolo and pay the one-million-euro termination clause to sign Pedro Martínez, the Catalan coach who has just led Valencia Basket to the ACB League title. Florentino Pérez has promised him a contract until 2029.

The native of Badalona, who on Sunday watched the Catalan national team's game in Manresa live, had a contract with Valencia Basket until 2028, but has informed the orange club that Real Madrid will pay his termination clause. The white club will face a financially significant operation, as they will also have to pay a millionaire compensation to Sergio Scariolo. The Italian coach and his assistant,  Luis Guil, have already received the notification.

The operation has flooded social networks with comments. Some Real Madrid fans criticize Pedro Martínez for considering him anti-Madrid, for his political opinions and for having positioned himself in favor of Catalonia's right to decide. Mario Hezonja, the team's star, does not see Sergio Scariolo's dismissal clearly at all. "Do I write here or record a TikTok spitting fire?", he assured on X.

After the president of Real Madrid rescued Juan Carlos Sánchez to lead the basketball section, Sergio Rodríguez announced his resignation on social media. The former player, until now sports director, does not want to work with someone he doesn't get along with. Martynas Pocius and Paco Robles, Chacho's two main advisors, will also not stay at Madrid, which has rethought its structure from top to bottom.

If Pedro Martínez's departure is confirmed, Valencia Basket will have to rebuild the project, which will also lose players like Jean Montero, Brancou Badio, Sergio de Larrea, Braxton Key, and probably Jaime Pradilla, whom Real Madrid also wants to sign. The orange club will have to consider whether to opt for an internal solution, by betting on Xavi Albert, or by bringing in an external coach. Diego Ocampo, coach of Kids&Us Manresa, is one of the options.

"Valencia Basket is a unique project with a very defined model. We want to grow progressively. We have a larger budget than last year and will have more next year, but we cannot expect to be at the level of the big European budgets. There is no change in philosophy or lack of ambition, but we cannot force anyone to stay if they have other desires. Valencia Basket, by philosophy, cannot enter into millionaire auctions against teams with much larger budgets. It is not our model. There will be changes, because life is change, some will leave, but the most important thing is to maintain the philosophy, continue together, and believe in what we do," analyzed Enric Carbonell, general director of Valencia Basket.

The orange club has shown its displeasure with Real Madrid. The entity was willing to match the economic offer of the white club, which will pay Pedro Martínez 1.2 million euros per season, but the coach has prioritized his sporting ambition to occupy the bench of one of Europe's greats.

Outgoing operation at Barça

Barça has activated the exit operation. Willy Hernangómez, Tomás Satoransky, Miles Norris and Myles Cale, whose contracts are ending, will not continue playing at the Palau Blaugrana in the 2026-27 season. Furthermore, the Catalan club has reached an agreement with Juani Marcos for the player to be released from the culer entity.