Italian federation president Gianni Petrucci confirmed that an NBA-FIBA agreement to launch NBA Europe has been finalized. An announcement is expected in late March; the project will feature teams from Rome and Milan. Petrucci noted interest from the owners of AC Milan and Inter Milan in joining the new continental competition.
President of the Italian Basketball Federation Gianni Petrucci confirmed in an interview with Giornale Radio Rai that the NBA Europe agreement will be announced in the coming weeks.
"The NBA-FIBA agreement has already been finalized and should be officially signed by the end of March, as Jorge Garbajosa (president of FIBA Europe, ed.) confirmed to us when he came to Turin," Petrucci said.
Petrucci also noted that NBA Europe will include two teams from Italy in the competition, from Rome and Milan.
"This agreement will bring excitement, with two teams like Roma and Milan having NBA acronyms, while still playing in the Italian league and making their players available in the national transfer windows, which is a big step forward. I personally support this development," Petrucci said.
He was also asked about Gerry Cardinale, owner of football giant AC Milan, potentially taking over Olimpia Milan for this project.
"Cardinale? I read it in the papers like everyone else, but I can say that Inter are also interested, from what I've heard and from what I've intuited, and not just intuited," the president clarified.
"AC Milan, with Cardinale and Ibrahimovic, were also present in London, speaking on stage at the project presentation. These are facts, not just idle talk. Anyone who wants to remain skeptical can do so," he concluded.
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