Partizan president Ostoja Mijailovic discusses Zvezda signing Campazzo / News - Basketnews.com

Mijailovic said it's not normal for a player to be paid this much in Serbia. He said Partizan are a serious club and will not try to answer back with a signing of their own.

Credit: Pedja Milosavljevic/SIPA - Scanpix Credit Pedja Milosavljevic/SIPA - Scanpix

Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade signed Facundo Campazzo last week in what was the most expensive deal in Serbian basketball history. After giving himself some time, the president of Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, Ostoja Mijailovic, provided his reaction to the matter.

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He sat down to talk to 24sedam in an interview that ranged from basketball to football to the entire Partizan organization.

"I didn't know we should strengthen whenever our city rival strengthens," Mijailovic said. "We are a serious club, Europe's winningest coach of all time takes care of our team, we broke the EuroLeague record for the number of season tickets sold, we are the most-watched team in the EuroLeague this season. Should we fall for that, and in addition to everything, respond to every expensive reinforcement of our city rival with a more expensive one? We are neither frivolous nor have the money for such expensive answers."

Campazzo will reportedly be paid €1.8 million for the remainder of the season by Crvena Zvezda, making him one of the most well-paid players in the entire tournament.

"I think it is not realistic that one player in our area is worth so much money on a monthly basis. That's a lot of money for one player, whatever his name is," Mijailovic provided his opinion. "Our city rival has its own plans, so it implements them. We are neither jealous nor envious, I am not being ironic. I really wish them the best of luck, except when they compete against us. Then, naturally, I wish them a convincing defeat."

Even without Campazzo, Crvena Zvezda have been on a roll recently, capturing 7 victories in the last 8 games with the last win coming against Olympiacos Piraeus.

"It is a fact that our rival has a much more expensive team, and that their team has more players than ours, but we will fight to match them with maximum effort in every practice session and every game," Mijailovic concluded.

After the first-ever Belgrade derby earlier this month in the EuroLeague, the two teams will battle against each other on January 27th again with Crvena Zvezda being the home team this time.

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