Messina clarifies statements amidst controversy: 'Purely a journalist's interpretation' / News - Basketnews.com

Ettore Messina claims misinterpretation in Shabazz Napier's Milan return saga: "I have never said or hypothesized that the player has expressed to anyone his desire to return to Olimpia."

Credit: Simone Lucarelli/LiveMedi/SIPA Credit Simone Lucarelli/LiveMedi/SIPA

In a recent interview with Italian media outlet Il Foglio, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan head coach Ettore Messina stirred up some controversy.

Shabazz Napier

Team:Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet BelgradePosition:PGAge:32Height:185 cmWeight:82 kgBirth place:Boston, United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

Messina asserted that a current guard for Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade -- Shabazz Napier -- expressed a desire to return to Milan, a team he had previously departed from due to alleged high salary demands.

In response, Napier took to his Instagram story, refuting Messina's claim with a straightforward message: "Stop using me as the reason."

Subsequently, Messina released another statement, clarifying the situation and attributing the misunderstanding to the interpretation by the Il Foglio journalist. The coach reiterated his respect for Napier and Red Star.

"Regarding a statement attributed to me this morning by an Italian newspaper and then taken up by numerous websites, I would like to point out that, speaking about Shabazz Napier in front of some journalists and the reasons for his departure from Milan, I have never said or hypothesized that the guy has expressed to anyone his desire to return to Olimpia. It was purely a journalist's interpretation. I have the utmost respect for Napier, for Crvena Zvezda, and as a principle, we never talk about players from other teams," Messina claimed, via Alessandro Luigi Maggi.

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