Zoran Savic on Mirotic: There is only one truth. And it’s this

“I’ve read everything. Everyone seemed to know more than us. But there is only one truth. And it’s this.” Zoran Savic, GM of Partizan Belgrade, reveals the backstage of the “Mirotic case” in a lengthy interview given at home to Mozzart.

“The first contact we had was before the Final Four in Kaunas,” recounts the former Virtus Bologna, “I knew that Barcelona wanted to terminate the contract. Nobody moved before us in Europe.”

The club thus decides to wait until summer: “We also step forward with his agent, Igor Crespo. The talks continued throughout the month of June, when the resolution with Barcelona was still far away. Then the rumors emerge: Olympiacos, Olimpia Milano, nobody was talking about us. And this was a big sign of seriousness on our part for him.”

And it comes to the climax: “We negotiate calmly. Then, one day, in front of me, Obradovic and the president, he breaks the hesitation: “I’ve decided, I’m coming to you, and I will inform the other clubs about this”. When the news came out, the pressures started.”

And here the situation escalates: “There were strong pressures, but all of us have to face them. I, Zeljko… in the end we gave a negative image, as if someone who has never played in Serbia cannot choose between Partizan and Red Star. Personally, I was annoyed by that phrase about divisions.”

Indeed, Nikola Mirotic wrote on Instagram: “I don’t want to be a person who divides, much less about the club colors.”

Savic continues: “Divisions have always existed, he can’t divide anyone. Divisions in sports are not a novelty. Everyone cheers for their own team, people are always divided by team affiliation. This is not specific to Serbia. He wouldn’t have divided anything here.”

There are also words filled with bitterness: “I’m just sorry that everything was presented as a matter of life or death. This isn’t normal. This isn’t life or death, this is sports and it should stay within the limits of sports. One shouldn’t talk about the prime minister cheering for someone, that others get more money from the state… Players should step onto the court and show who is the best. This is the only measure. I repeat, it was a bad image.”