Alessandro Pajola has officially begun his new chapter with Partizan. The Italian point guard arrived in Belgrade on Tuesday evening, ready to embark on the first international experience of his career the seasons with Virtus Bologna jersey. Speaking to Mozzart Sport, Pajola discussed the reasons behind his move to Serbia and his expectations for the new season.
“I’m excited, I really feel very excited. Although I’m a little tired from the trip, I’m very happy to be here and to start this new adventure. I can’t wait to get on the court. I miss playing a lot and I can’t wait to enter the Belgrade Arena, play in front of the home fans and feel all the energy and vibes that exist in the arena”, Pajola said.
Leaving Virtus and moving to Belgrade was not a difficult decision for the Italian international, who was eager to experience a completely new environment.
“It was an easy decision for me. I wanted a new adventure, new motivation, to learn a lot both about basketball and about life. And Partizan is Partizan. I know what it means to play here. Last year I was with Smailagić and we talked a lot about the club, and I also played against Partizan many times. It was simply an opportunity you couldn’t turn down, so I was immediately very happy to be able to say ‘yes’.”
One of the familiar faces Pajola will find in Belgrade is Luka Vildoza, with whom he previously shared a locker room.
“I was very surprised, honestly I didn’t know. I’m extremely happy that I’ll see him again. It’s important to have a good friend and teammate you already know, and I especially enjoy playing with Luka because he understands basketball very well. Last season we didn’t have many opportunities to play together because of injuries on both sides, but hopefully we’ll have more luck this time.”
Pajola also spoke with Alen Smailagić about what awaits him in Belgrade, although he believes Partizan’s famous atmosphere has to be experienced firsthand.
“Alen told me about many things and about the city itself. But you can see and feel it as soon as you play against Partizan. I remember the first time I played here in the EuroCup, Partizan against Virtus, when Saša Đorđević returned to the Belgrade Arena. That’s something I still remember and can’t forget. It’s by far the best atmosphere I’ve experienced in a basketball arena. I have a lot of friends from Serbia, so I know very well what awaits me.”
The Italian point guard also discussed his close relationship with Miloš Teodosić, with whom he spent four seasons in Bologna. The Serbian is now part of Crvena zvezda’s management.
“We spoke a little. We played together for four years and have an extremely strong relationship. I love him very much. He helped me build my personality, both on and off the court. We talked a lot about life and how to behave. For me, he is one of the best, probably the best player in the history of European basketball, so it’s always an honor for me to speak with him and be his friend.”
Pajola also addressed reports that Teodosić had tried to convince him to join Crvena zvezda, firmly denying that the two had discussed the possibility.
“We didn’t talk about those things. That’s the job of agencies and agents. I only discuss my future with my agents. With Miloš, I talk about life. We didn’t speak much during the summer, maybe just two or three messages, nothing special. So there was nothing special about it.”
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