Sports · Basketball · 14 hrs ago
Baskonia director explains Galbiati’s departure over club direction
Baskonia sporting director Félix Fernández explained the club’s split with coach Paolo Galbiati on Wednesday.
Fernández said Galbiati had told the Spanish club he wanted to coach Barcelona, but they did not reach an agreement on that possibility.
He said the club also saw a disconnect over the team’s direction and Galbiati’s involvement in preparations.
Fernández said Galbiati did not want captain Tadas Sedekerskis and two or three other players whom the club viewed as important.
Baskonia said it could not give up on the EuroLeague in October or accept what Fernández called defeatist language.
Galbiati had led Baskonia to last season’s Copa del Rey title, and Velimir Perasovic has already taken charge of the team’s last two games.
Fernández also said Markus Howard left for Zenit St. Petersburg after losing his place in Baskonia’s rotation.
Baskonia sporting director Félix Fernández said disagreements over team direction and player selection contributed to Paolo Galbiati’s departure.
Fernández said Galbiati had told the club he wanted to coach Barcelona.
He said Galbiati did not want captain Tadas Sedekerskis and two or three other players.
Fernández also said the club could not accept what he described as defeatist language about the EuroLeague.
Velimir Perasovic had taken over from Galbiati and coached Baskonia in its previous two games.
- Who
- Baskonia sporting director Félix Fernández explained the club’s split with coach Paolo Galbiati.
- What
- Fernández said Barcelona ambitions and disagreements over the team and player choices contributed to Galbiati’s departure.
- When
- Fernández discussed the split on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
- Where
- Baskonia. The reported interest was in coaching Barcelona.
- Why
- Fernández cited a disconnect over team direction, Galbiati’s interest in Barcelona, and disagreement about players including Tadas Sedekerskis.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Fernández said Galbiati told Baskonia he wanted to coach Barcelona.
Fernández said the club could not afford to be throwing away the EuroLeague.
Fernández discussed Galbiati’s departure during Velimir Perasovic’s presentation.
Perasovic had coached Baskonia in its previous two games after taking over from Galbiati.
- Coach
- Paolo Galbiati
- Sporting director
- Félix Fernández
- Replacement coach
- Velimir Perasovic
- Players cited
- Tadas Sedekerskis and two or three other players
- Former player
- Markus Howard moved to Zenit St. Petersburg
- Publication date
- October 21, 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
We cannot afford to be throwing the EuroLeague away on October 10
Galbiati told us in the summer that he wanted to coach Barça, and afterwards we noticed a disconnect with the sporting department.
We noticed a lack of activity from Paolo during the postseason and preseason.
The same happened with two or three other players.