By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
Barcelona decided to “punish” Thomas Heurtel by leaving him in Istanbul and not permitting him to board the team plane and return to Spain after the game against Anadolu Efes. Despite Heurtel being forced to the exit door, Barcelona feels deceived by the agency Beobasket which represents the player.
To be exact Heurtel traveled to Turkey, even if he wasn’t expected to play for Barcelona in the Euroleague game against Anadolu Efes, because – according to his agency – he was in talks with Fenerbahce. When Barcelona found out that Heurtel was not in contact with the Turkish club but with their Spanish arch-rivals Real Madrid, the reaction proved to be unprecedented.
The decision to not let Heurtel board the plane, while his family remains in Barcelona and traveling around Europe due to COVID restrictions is not a simple affair, may create more legal repercussions since Heurtel remains under contract with the Spanish club.
To be exact, the side of the player intends to take legal action.
Meanwhile, French guard Leo Westermann who was expected to replace Heurtel in Barcelona and was released earlier in the day by Fenerbahce, is also left in Istanbul, despite the fact that initially he was supposed to travel to Spain together with his new team. According to a report by Spanish outlet “Mundo Deportivo”, Barcelona decided to cancel the deal.
The Spanish Players Union (ABP) which represents the athletes competing in the Spanish Liga Endesa already announced via their social media that they will take immediate action.