Sertac Sanli shares the reasons behind Barcelona transfer / News - Basketnews.com

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Sertac Sanli surprised basketball fans this summer by transferring from the reigning Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champions Anadolu Efes Istanbul to FC Barcelona.

However, his first steps at the Spanish club have not been too successful so far. Sanli was forced to miss the Catalan Cup, the Super Cup, and Barca's first Liga ACB game due to a toe injury.

After recovering, the center appeared in two ACB matches, averaging 3 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 4.5 PIR over 11 minutes of action.

The 30-year-old was interviewed by Mundo Deportivo and talked about his first impressions in a new environment and the reasons behind his big off-season move.

"New team, new faces, new city, new coach, Everything is new to me, and it's exciting. Everyone says that the ACB is the strongest league, and there is no doubt.

I wanted to see what that was like, which was one of the reasons I wanted to come here to meet new players and systems. I wanted to do it before, but it has happened now, and I am ready."

Sanli said that the start of the season has been challenging. However, he believes Barcelona can achieve a lot with coach Sarunas Jasikevicius.

"It has been somewhat complicated now at the beginning because I had this small injury, and the adaptation times have been longer. But everyone knows me from the EuroLeague, and I have received an excellent welcome from everyone.

Saras also talked to me about the new season, and I know he is a demanding coach, but he knows the game well, and how to bring the chemistry we can have to a team.

He knows how we can react on the go. We lost the Super Cup, but nothing has changed, and we have all the other titles ahead of us. And we can win them."

The 2.12 m big man has spent his entire career in Turkey but has always dreamed of playing in Barcelona.

"Since I was little, I wanted to win the EuroLeague with Efes, and the dream came true. It was something indescribable to me. My next dream was to leave the country and play in other countries, maybe the NBA, maybe other leagues.

My friends knew it after last year and when Barca calls you it's something incredible. I want to go back one day because Efes is my home, but I wanted to live out new experiences."

Sanli believes that Barcelona can win the EuroLeague this season.

"Last year was different due to the Covid situation. This season I think that in addition to Efes and Barca, Madrid and CSKA also have great squads and have added something new and different from last season.

I think we can reach the Final Four, but once we're there, everything is different because anything can happen in a single game. Four or five teams are favorites to play there, but any other can surprise. It's the good thing about the EuroLeague. Hopefully, we can win it.

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