Tony Parker and Asvel, is it almost over?
A fear that runs through the hearts of many supporters of the Lyon-Villeurbanne club.
And this after the disclosure of the quadruple NBA champion's intentions to sell his shares to Smart Good Things, a company specializing in the manufacture of instant drinks headed by Serge Bueno and of which he is a partner and deputy general manager.
"TP" therefore speaks, in the columns of
L'Equipe
, in order to reassure everyone.
"
I'm not going anywhere, I'm staying at Asvel
", he insists, reaffirming his desire to "
grow the club
" and climb to the roof of Europe, with the men's team and the training feminine.
"
Given what is happening at the moment, I want to find solutions so that we continue to rise
, ”adds Parker, majority shareholder since 2014.
In this case, Tony Parker, 40, “
wishes to sell his Asvel shares against Smart Good Things shares
”, as summarized by the sports daily.
“SMG” would become the de facto majority, but the 2013 European champion sees himself “
staying at Asvel for the next ten years
”.
“
I will have all the powers to manage the athlete.
Nothing will change.
I will remain president of Asvel and Asvel women, the board will be the same and I will make the decisions as usual
", he explains, confirming that he will "
sell all (his) shares
" but believing that it is only a "
reorganization of assets
".
All with the desire, in the long term, to reach a budget of €25 million to be close to the best (15.7 today).
And to continue: “
I want to be European champion, I am not a billionaire, I am not Qatar.
At some point, I need us to form a team to grow together.
It will not change anything in relation to my functions and the freedom I will have to make decisions for Asvel
”.
I want to be European champion one day with Asvel.
Tony Parker
Decisions which will obviously go through discussions with LDLC or even OL, the club dear to President Aulas holding 33% of the club with 21 French basketball championship titles.
All with a two-year partnership in progress and also the prospect of playing, in the medium term, in the future hall of OL.
“
I am not at all at war with Jean-Michel Aulas or OL either
,” promises Parker, who however left the club's board of directors recently under the American flag with John Textor.
“
He loves basketball.
When we have the chance to see each other to really talk business, we will see how he sees the future in relation to Asvel
”, underlines “TP”, adding that “
the idea is to extend this partnership and play in the new hall.
There are two deals to be found
” with Olympique Lyonnais.
Read alsoBasketball: how Tony Parker's Asvel conquered France ... and is attacking Europe
And Tony Parker to conclude: “
I repeat myself, I want to be European champion one day with Asvel.
I bought the club for 2 million euros in 2014. Today, the value of the club is 40 million euros!
I want my shareholders to continue to trust me.
I hope the Euroleague will be closed one day.
In three years, with the Euroleague closed, the club can be worth between 100 and 120 million euros!
“Last budget of the Euroleague, Asvel is currently in 17th and penultimate place in the standings.
In the league, the club is seventh.
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