Nikola Mirotic says Barca made the decision to part ways unilaterally / News - Basketnews.com

Nikola Mirotic argued that Barca haven't engaged in talks about a possible pay cut and made the decision to part ways with the player unilaterally.

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

The possible departure of Nikola Mirotic from FC Barcelona is the biggest free agency story both in Spain and in the EuroLeague. The player has now offered his comments about it.

Nikola Mirotic

MIN:24.97PTS:15.38 (58.15%)REB:4.34As:1.21ST:0.97BL:0.41TO:1.34GM:29ProfileEuroLeague2022/2023

Earlier in the day, it was reported that the organization has communicated its decision to terminate the contract with the Montenegrin superstar forward. Asked whether the club gave him any kind of explanation for the decision, the player told that Barca did not provide a clear reason.

"Honestly no," Mirotic told in an interview with Jose Ignacio Huguet from Mundo Deportivo.

"First, I would've liked it to have been transmitted to me in a different way, at another time, with other people [involved], perhaps [from someone] higher up [in the organization]. My agent has already sat down with them and asked. If it's an economic issue, let's talk, let's sit down and see if we can do something about it."

"At no time has the club spoken to me about a possible [salary] reduction," the player said.

Mirotic says that the club hasn't initiated any contract talks during the past two years despite him being open to a conversation about it.

"We haven't talked about it for two years," he said. "It's not something that has been put on the table, and it's something that I hoped could happen this summer."

The superstar forward told that he would've agreed to a pay cut if such a possibility was offered to him.

"I would've done it, for sure. I already helped the club once. Why not do it? Why not sit down? Why not listen? Why not see how we can help each other?" the player asked.

"I'm very happy in Barcelona and so is my family," he continued. "Where am I going to be better [than here]? But it hasn't been possible because the decision [from the club] has been very clear, and the explanation at the end has been that the club wants to go another way."

Asked whether it was a unilateral decision by Barca that he just had to abide by, Mirotic agreed.

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