Willy Hernangmez It has been one of the great protagonists of the European market. His signing for Barcelona It has caused a convulsion in Spanish basketball due to his past in the Real Madrid youth system. The center, which these days is preparing the World Cup with the national team, spoke for the first time since his arrival at the Barcelona club.
“I understand all the opinions,” he said about the noise caused by his signing, especially with criticism from Madrid fans. “I have been surprised for good by the number of people who have supported me and who have understood that I came looking for an opportunity, for a place where I feel valued. The Barcelona has been it from the first moment and I am happy”.
I am from Madrid, I was born here, but they did not see that I had a place here and I just wanted to play
The MVP of the last Eurobasket assures that “many more teams from Europe called me. It is a recognition of the player that I am and want to be. I only asked for a chance. I am from Madrid, I was born here, but they did not see that I had a place here and I just wanted to play. El Bara, from minute one, with Juan Carlos (Navarro) and Mario (Fernández), has made me feel loved and they have offered me a project. For me it is an exciting challenge and I really want to go, adapt to a new city, be back home with my family and, above all, play, enjoy and compete”.
The pvot remembers its origins and says “I am very grateful to Real Madrid, the team that signed me through the youth ranks and gave me the opportunity to make my ACB and Euroleague debut, but I am also grateful to Sevilla, the Knicks, Charlotte, the Pelicans… I have been in many teams and what I have been looking for is an opportunity to play, to be happy and to be valued. At Barcelona they give it to me and I’m up against them.”
The Hernangmez monopolize the spotlights of the market
The new Barça player celebrates having resolved his future before concentrating with the selection. “It gives peace of mind and mental stability to know that you already have your place for the coming years. It allows you to be one hundred percent in the training sessions of the national team. My brother and I wanted to be calm in concentration and with our heads set on the selection, “he says.
I am very grateful to Real Madrid, but I am also grateful to Sevilla, the Knicks, Charlotte, the Pelicans…
Because the two Hernangmez, upon their return to Europe, have monopolized the spotlight. This very week, Juancho has committed to Panathinaikos. “I see him very happy, with a lot of desire. He has worked very hard these months and has a chance to play basketball again, feel important and be the player he is. Me, very happy for my brother and to see which NBA and European teams were interested in him.”
Willy considers that his brother has made the decision “thinking about what is best for his career, for his life, for his future…”. The pity is that they are not going to play in the same team, as was speculated by Barcelona’s interest in Juancho: “I would love it, and it is a dream, to be able to play with him. It has not been possible for next season but this is a very long. We have a lot of gasoline left in the tank and surely there will be more opportunities. If we play against each other, we will be rivals as we have been so far in the NBA and in the ACB and then we will go to dinner and toast to life.”.
