Partizan call out Nikola Mirotic for his statement / News - Basketnews.com

Partizan released a statement where the club questioned Mirotic's true motives behind his sudden decision not to sign the contract the two sides had already agreed on.

Credit: Partizan Mozzart Bet/Dragana Stjepanovic Credit Partizan Mozzart Bet/Dragana Stjepanovic

After Nikola Mirotic left FC Barcelona, it was widely speculated that he would join Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade. However, the player denied it.

Mirotic released an Instagram post where he said he would not join any Serbian team because of the threats he received following the reports about the agreement between him and Partizan.

Hours after the player's statement, the Serbian club responded by releasing a statement of their own, claiming that Mirotic's decision had nothing to do with the supposed threats.

Partizan's full statement:

KK Partizan Mozzart Bet, despite all the efforts and negotiations that lasted several weeks, will not hire one of the best European players at the moment, Nikola Mirotic.

The club's interest in the player dates back to June when it was reported that Mirotic would terminate his contract with Barcelona.

Without jeopardizing the financial security of the players during the termination of the current contract at that moment, the president of KK Partizan Mozzart Bet, sports director and coach of the black and white team, Ostoja Mijailovic, Zoran Savic, and Zeljko Obradovic held preliminary talks with Nikola Mirotic, who hosted them in his home in Tivat.

When Barcelona and Nikola Mirotic completed all administrative tasks, official negotiations began during which the club accepted the player's terms. With this, we would like to point out that the conditions have changed several times but the club always found a way to fulfill them and sent the signed three-year contract to Nikola Mirotic for signature a few days ago.

At the same time, numerous information appeared in the public about the fact that certain people are threatening Nikola Mirotic and that there are fears for his safety if he becomes a Partizan Mozzart Bet basketball player.

President Mijailovic, sports director Savic, and coach Obradovic assured the player several times that there was no cause for concern and that he was more than welcome in Serbia.

Also, the Club immediately contacted the highest state authorities so that even the slightest doubt would be removed. On this occasion, KK Partizan Mozzart Bet would like to thank the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, who personally invited the player and confirmed that his and his family's safety is guaranteed in Serbia and that they are welcome.

For all of the above, there is written evidence in e-mails or messages.

However, for a reason unknown to the Club, Nikola Mirotic did not decide to sign the already agreed terms, and KK Partizan Mozzart Bet was forced after a certain waiting period to give up the employment of the former Barcelona basketball player.

On this occasion, KK Partizan Mozzart Bet would like to mention that about fifteen days ago Nikola Mirotic gave his word to coach Obradovic and then to president Mijailovic, director Savic, and captain [Kevin] Punter that he would become a Partizan player. Also, the club would like to mention that after that, it inquired several times about which other players the black-and-whites would bring.

The club publicly calls on Nikola Mirotic, out of his commitment to the truth, and he is a man who fights for the truth, to say who the people who threatened him are.

The club's wish and plan was to build the team around the players who are currently under contract and Mirotic himself, but now that plan will have to be corrected.

KK Partizan Mozzart Bet firmly believes that the reasons for not signing the contract by Nikola Mirotic have nothing to do with any threats, but with some other things that the public will be able to see for themselves in the days ahead.

The steam roller turns to other solutions on the market and enters the 2023/24 season with unchanged ambitions.

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