Virtus CEO Baraldi: 'Going to the EuroLeague is a financial tragedy, the EuroCup is like a lottery' / News - Basketnews.com

Virtus Segafredo Bologna CEO Luca Baraldi talked about the current format and structure of the EuroLeague with Italian outlets Corriere dello Sport and Corriere di Bologna.

2-pointers this season

59%25,4Points made:25,4Accuracy:59,3%Place in standings:2Record max:31Record min:23Most made 2FGs:Kevin HerveyTeamEuroCupStatisticsSchedule

The Italian executive pointed out that "the dispute between FIBA and EuroLeague is not good for European Basketball. It would be important for them to join forces for a unique competition. I would not look for the guilty but for who can bridge the gap."

He argued that playing in European premier competition entails certain economic losses that call for changes.

"Going to the EuroLeague today is a tragedy from a financial standpoint," he stated. "If it were up to me, I would reset the management, but I do not know them, and I do not allow myself to make these arguments."

Baraldi said that he respects EuroLeague CEO Jordi Bertomeu, who will be in office until next summer. Nevertheless, he also stressed that he isn't aware of the reasons behind the stakeholders' decision to rid him of his duties.

"I have great respect for Jordi Bertomeu. I shared 100% all the projects he had told us about before being distrusted for reasons I do not know. New faces should now emerge."Speaking about the EuroLeague format, Baraldi asked himself: "Is it possible that a country like Italy has only one company in the highest European competition?"

"From a business perspective, Bologna can't be left out because it has everything. If instead, we focus on sports merit, they will have to explain the path to us.

This path will certainly not be through the current version of the EuroCup, which is like a lottery. Who wins is the luckiest, not the best," he underlined.

Asked about his proposals on the format, Baraldi replied that EuroLeague must have two groups and fewer games because of injury risk.

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