The buzz surrounding Dubai’s interest in Barcelona basketball coach Xavi Pascual has grown louder with each passing day. Since last week, journalists like Óscar Herreros have been reporting that the Gavà-born tactician is the top candidate for the Middle Eastern club’s bench next season. A month ago, Pascual stated in a press conference that he would not discuss his future until the season ends, and last weekend he repeated the same stance when asked if he had already made a decision. After leaving the door open in early April, his continuity at Barcelona beyond next summer remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, reports of Dubai’s pursuit of Pascual continue to intensify. The Emirati club has secured the signing of Alpha Diallo (Monaco) for next season and is in pole position to acquire Sylvain Francisco (Zalgiris). Both players were on Barcelona’s radar for the upcoming campaign and were expected to be key pieces in the new project, but unless there is a dramatic turn of events, they will not land in Catalonia.
In recent hours, journalist Matteo Andreani claimed that Abdullah Al-Naboodah, president of Dubai Basket, held talks with Pascual to convince him to join the club. If Pascual agrees, Dubai would have no issue paying the release clause that would free him from his contract with Barcelona, which runs until 2028. According to Andreani, the figure is set at 300,000 euros.
The Italian reporter’s social media post has stirred discontent among Pascual’s representatives. Agent David Carro did not hesitate to respond, saying, “The main problem is that every week they tell a different story, and they don’t even verify the information. It’s a shame.”
Unless the plan changes, fans will have to wait until the end of the season to learn whether Pascual will remain at Barcelona or decide to trigger his release clause. In the meantime, the coach and his players face a double away week in the Liga Endesa: on Wednesday they visit league bottom-dwellers Covirán Granada, and on Sunday they travel to Tenerife.
