Shock reports from Spain: Mirotic considering leaving Monaco
If confirmed, what Sport reports would be sensational. According to the Spanish outlet, Nikola Mirotic is considering leaving AS Monaco due to the Principality club’s financial problems. The difficulties of the owner, Russian oligarch Alexey Fedorychev—who currently lacks liquidity because of issues affecting his companies and the freezing of his assets—have inevitably spilled over to the club, resulting in severe delays in salary payments and deadlines. On a couple of occasions, the team came close to going on strike, but over the weekend the situation was “unblocked” only thanks to the intervention of the LNB, the French league, which made €500,000 available to cover part of the money owed to the players. In the end, the team took the court against Chalon and secured a convincing 78–92 victory.
Sport writes: “Even though the situation remains unclear and despite the Principality of Monaco itself offering to guarantee the amounts owed while waiting for the arrival of a new investor, there is a great deal of concern within the team, and players such as Mirotic are evaluating a possible departure in the coming weeks.” However, it should be noted that Mirotic and the other Monaco players cannot play in the EuroLeague with another club this season, as transfers are closed. “In this situation, the only option for Mirotic would be to play for a team outside ULEB competitions or try an experience in Japan; the best solution to remain in Europe would instead be to sign with a club competing in FIBA competitions, such as the Basketball Champions League.” Sport mentions Joventut Badalona as a possibility, while stressing that Mirotic’s salary would be well beyond the club’s reach.
WHAT COULD HAPPEN
Interviewed by L’Équipe, Prince Albert II of Monaco confirmed that discussions are underway to try to stabilize the club in the short term. “There are some Monegasque companies that are sponsors and have said that perhaps a roundtable could be created to see how the club could be helped locally, but it has not gone beyond that,” explained the sovereign. The Principality intends to step in, but by acting as a bridge toward an ownership change, which now appears inevitable. “It is a situation that worries me greatly, but we will do everything possible to ensure that the players are treated properly and, above all, that the season can be completed,” he stated, while salaries for December and January have still not been paid.
THE DOSSIER
The Monaco Court of First Instance has postponed the review of the club’s cessation-of-payments status to March 6, but L’Équipe reports that there could be enormous difficulties for the Principality’s intervention. The complexity of the liabilities—estimated at around €15 million—and the need to legally secure every single step are slowing down the process. “Reflections are ongoing; all of this takes time in order to make the right choices,” Prince Albert II acknowledged. Tension is at its highest.
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