After bringing back Eli Ndiaye, who spent a season pursuing an NBA opportunity, Real Madrid have surprisingly announced that they are loaning the player to another Spanish team.
Per their official announcement, Ndiaye is set to be loaned to Joventut Badalona for the upcoming season.
The 22-year-old signed a two-year contract with Real last month, returning to the club, where he spent four seasons at the senior level between 2021 and 2025.
Before returning to Madrid, Ndiaye had the opportunity to join another EuroLeague team.
Valencia Basket submitted an offer for the Spanish-Senegalese forward after Ndiaye informed the ACB of his intention to return to the Spanish league.
Real Madrid retained his domestic rights and had five days to decide whether to match Valencia's proposal.
Madrid ultimately exercised its right of first refusal, matching Valencia's offer and retaining Ndiaye's ACB rights. The financial terms of Valencia's proposal were not publicly disclosed.
Born in Dakar, Senegal, Ndiaye joined Real Madrid's youth system at 13 and eventually made his senior debut in 2021.
He also became a Spanish citizen in 2020, making him valuable as a locally trained player under Liga Endesa roster regulations.
His role steadily increased during his first stint with Madrid. In his final EuroLeague campaign before leaving for the United States, Ndiaye averaged 3.6 points and 2.4 rebounds in 14 minutes across 25 appearances during the 2024-25 season.
Now, he moves to Joventut, where he will most likely have a bigger role, leaving his former club at least temporarily.
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