FC Barcelona is working to lighten their wage bill, and that affects all sections, especially basketball. After a year of poor results that could end with nothing if they don't win the ACB, changes to the roster are being planned. Right now, the budget is minimal and a lot of money is needed to strengthen the squad, something that depends on a key departure: Willy Hernangómez's.
In the summer of 2023, Willy Hernangómez left the NBA and, surprisingly, signed for Barça for three seasons. The center who was expected to dominate the paint has consecutively remained on the bench with two different coaches, and Laporta has offered to cut ties completely. Mundo Deportivo has discovered that the Catalan club has put forward for their player the possibility of breaking his contract by paying him for the remaining year.
willy hernangómez says no: counteroffer for Joan Laporta
Willy Hernangómez has said "no" to the possibility of receiving the full salary he has agreed with Barça: €2.4M net for the next season. This would have left him free on the market, pocketing everything signed and Barcelona would have saved the taxes on his contract. Despite this, the Madrid native is clear: he doesn't want to leave because this is where he has established his residence with his Catalan girlfriend and he has offered another possibility.
What Hernangómez has proposed is to lower his salary to €1M net per year, in exchange for turning his current contract into a five-year deal. This would mean renewing him at a lower rate until 2030, a formula that FC Barcelona has rejected.
The problem with Willy Hernangómez is more about sporting fit than economics. He hasn't delivered the performance that was expected when such a strong bet was made on him and he hasn't lived up to his play. Barça intends to go for a center with different characteristics than his and he doesn't fit into the sports project they want to build for next season.
unilateral termination ruled out for Willy Hernangómez
In this regard, Mundo Deportivo has also indicated that a unilateral termination like those done in the past with Mirotic or Cory Higgins is ruled out. The only thing left is for one of the two parties to give in, or Willy Hernangómez will continue playing for Barça next season. This would be his last at Palau blaugrana, coinciding with the end of his contract.
Joan Laporta and the basketball section managers are clear that the Madrid center, at most, won't continue beyond 2026.