Croatian forward Mario Hezonja has not paid the one million dollars of his NBA exit clause before the deadline, complicating his departure from Real Madrid. The white club has already signed Mikael Jantunen as a possible replacement.
The Mario Hezonja saga at Real Madrid basketball takes a new turn. The Croatian forward, who announced last Monday his intention to activate the exclusive exit clause for the NBA, has yet to pay the one million dollars (about 925,000 euros) stipulated in his contract, according to this newspaper. The deadline to pay this amount expired on Monday, and the fact that the player has not done so creates uncertainty about his future.
According to the ACB collective agreement, a player who activates such a clause must pay it at the moment they inform the club of their decision. Hezonja notified Real Madrid at the last hour on Monday, but the money has not arrived. His representative has offered an amount higher than the club to release the player, but now it is the white entity that holds the upper hand. Sources close to the club indicate that Real Madrid is willing to not put up obstacles, but the situation is legally complex.
Pedro Martínez's team is already preparing for the possible departure of Hezonja. In fact, this Wednesday the signing of Finnish power forward Mikael Jantunen, from Fenerbahçe, was announced to strengthen the squad. Additionally, the club has until this Friday to match Valencia Basket's offer for their youth player Eli John Ndiaye, on whom they hold a right of first refusal. The white board seems clear that if Hezonja does not regularise his situation, he could remain with the team, as he is contracted until 2029.
The scenarios for the Croatian are two: the NBA or Dubai. In the United States, as of today, there is no franchise that has made him a firm offer, making his bet on the American league risky. In contrast, the destination in the United Arab Emirates is more viable and attractive for the player, according to close sources. However, the rest of the Euroleague is keeping an eye on the Real Madrid star, the current runner-up in the competition.
Real Madrid, for its part, does not seem willing to legalise the matter, although the collective agreement protects them to consider that the player has not met the deadlines and, therefore, his clause is not effective. The situation is unprecedented in Spanish basketball and could set a precedent. Meanwhile, Hezonja continues training with the group, but his future remains an unknown that the club hopes to resolve in the coming days.
For Real Madrid fans, the uncertainty regarding the continuity of one of their franchise players is at its peak. The team has already made a move with the signing of Jantunen, but Hezonja's possible departure would leave a significant gap in the outside game. The board hopes that the matter will be resolved without going to court, but no option is ruled out.
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