Luca Baraldi addresses Virtus Bologna's future, roster changes, partnership with Scariolo / News - Basketnews.com

Virtus Bologna CEO Luca Baraldi talked about the club's future in the EuroLeague, the roster changes that will take place, and commented on Sergio Scariolo's presence with the team.

Credit: Scanpix-Virtus Bologna Credit Scanpix-Virtus Bologna

Just a few days before the EuroLeague regular season is officially over, Luca Baraldi took stock of the campaign for the club and expressed his satisfaction with the growth thatVirtus Segafredo Bologna have shown.

Free throws this season

80%14,4Points made:14,4Accuracy:79,9%Place in standings:6Record max:27Record min:7Most made FTs:Milos TeodosicTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

"We said that we can stay in the EuroLeague because we have created a sports and business organization that has shown professionalism and has also achieved important victories on difficult fields," the Italian club's CEO reflected talking to 'Basket City' on TRC.

"We beat almost all the teams that today are fighting to go to the Final 4 and this means that even from a technical standpoint, the values were there; then it is clear that the inexperience of many players was manifest in the fact that we played every two days, which requires an aspect of physical and mental recovery to which many players were not used," he continued.

Even though the EuroLeague season is done, the goal of winning the Italian title is still alive, Baraldi has a clear view of how the club should move forward in the transfer market.

"We will pursue the idea of a roster that can consolidate over the years. We mustn't judge from the last game, we must think about the good of Virtus."

Baraldi pointed out that everyone at the club shouldn't "fall in love with the players too much."

"Certainly, we must have players who want to stay in Bologna, who feel goosebumps when they put on our shirt. Some of them have felt small at certain times and perhaps have played less [than expected].

I believe that a club like Virtus must also think about what will be after [Milos] Teodosic, after [Marco] Belinelli, and therefore we will have to get players of the highest level in certain roles," the Italian exec stressed.

Baraldi referred to his impressions from meeting acting EuroLeague CEO Marshall Glickman.

Virtus Segafredo Bologna / Schedule

Valencia Basket Virtus Segafredo Bologna79-68 Virtus Segafredo Bologna EA7 Emporio Armani MilanThu18:45

"We met a capable person, with great experience, who knows how to evaluate the sportive, organizational, and business development potential of individual companies. We are fortunate to represent one of the most important clubs historically in Europe, but also in terms of recent results," he said.

"We answered all the questions we were asked, I think exhaustively. Italy today has only one team with a permanent license, while other countries have many more. Bologna showed great participation numbers with an average attendance exceeding 8000 people per game, which is a very high figure," Baraldi added.

Over the past few weeks, many scenarios have surfaced regardingSergio Scariolo's future with the team. His three-year deal with Virtus expires in 2024, but the Italian coach has been rumored for Real Madrid.

"He is here because he is one of the best coaches in expressing basketball at the European level and also in the world. He has shown that he is a very competent man, very balanced, a man of common sense, who has gone through some very difficult moments in the management of the team," Baraldi commented.

"At the end of the year we will have many deadlines, a new book to write, which is very inspiring for him. I think Scariolo can stay with us even beyond the duration of the contract," he argued.

Read more: Virtus prepare for another busy summer amid unclear future in EuroLeague

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