Satoransky denounces Barcelona's management after his departure
Tomas Satoransky left Barcelona this summer after four seasons to sign with Hapoel Tel Aviv. In an interview with the Czech outlet Seznam Zpravy, the Czech guard did not hesitate to harshly criticize the sports management and lack of priority that the Barcelona board gave to basketball in recent years.
Satoransky left the blaugrana club after winning the ACB League in 2023, but the farewell was marked by disappointment. The Czech player gave an interview to the Czech media where he laid out the reasons for his departure and did not hold back in expressing his discontent with the way the Barcelona management handled the final years of his time at the Palau Blaugrana.
The point of inflection came with Xavi Pascual's departure
The departure of coach Xavi Pascual was a decisive turning point in Satoransky's decision to leave Barcelona. The Czech guard considered the coach as one of the fundamental pillars of the project, and his exit made him reconsider his continuity. "When Coach Xavi Pascual —for me, one of the best in Europe— decided not to continue, I had the feeling that things wouldn't go well; it was the only link that would have made me stay," he acknowledged.
Physical problems and extreme demands at the Palau
The Czech point guard also revealed the physical wear and tear he experienced during his time in Barcelona. Despite back problems he was facing, Satoransky pushed himself to the limit to help the team. "I had a lot of back problems; I had demanded too much of myself," he admitted in the interview. The situation worsened during the Euroleague season, where he played up to 30 minutes per game, leading to an unsustainable cumulative strain. "The body was exhausted, and by the second or third day, we were already playing the league," he explained about the competition pace he had to maintain.
The farewell in the final also left an emotional impact on the player. Satoransky recalled the moment when he and Jan Vesely were substituted in the final stretch of the last game: "When, at the end of the last final, the coach substituted Jan Vesely and me, it was difficult to say goodbye from the bench." Despite the physical problems and disappointment, the blaugrana fans gave him an emotional farewell that the player appreciated.
Frontal criticism of the board and football's priority
Satoransky's harshest criticisms were directed towards Barcelona's board, accusing them of prioritizing football over basketball. According to the guard, the football section took control of the club's strategic decisions, relegating the basketball team to a secondary role. "Barça was a great disappointment due to the attitude the football executives adopted towards basketball. In recent years, they put obstacles in our way, and it was clear that winning in basketball was not a priority for them," he stated unequivocally.
Despite these limitations, Satoransky acknowledged that the team made a commendable effort to reach the final against Valencia. "It's true that we didn't play at our best level, but, on the other hand, we signed seven players over the age of 34; I find it quite admirable that we reached the final against Valencia, where we didn't stand a chance," he pointed out. However, this positive assessment of the sporting performance does not soften his criticism of the overall project management.
New project at Hapoel Tel Aviv
Satoransky expressed optimism about his new venture at Hapoel Tel Aviv. The Czech guard highlighted the vision of the Israeli team's owner as a differentiating factor. "Now, at Hapoel, we have a visionary owner and, without a doubt, we aim to win the Euroleague," he affirmed with conviction. This statement contrasts significantly with his description of the atmosphere in Barcelona, where structural obstacles limited sporting ambitions.
Satoransky's departure after four seasons represents a significant change in Barcelona's project. His testimony sparks a debate on the institutional priorities of the Catalan club and how cross-cutting management can affect the performance of its different sports sections. The Czech guard's criticisms underline the importance of maintaining coherence in investment and support for all sports projects of an entity of Barcelona's magnitude.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Satoransky denuncia la gestión del Barcelona tras su marcha
