Barça and Real Madrid are used to competing every summer for the biggest stars in European basketball. But this time, the situation is different.
This isn't about a young prospect or an unexpected move to the NBA. What's coming is a move that could reopen old wounds.
Not just sporting ones. Because at Palau blaugrana, they're already talking about basketball's "Figo case." With good reason.
The player has a name and surname: Willy Hernangómez
Spanish international, European champion, and MVP of Eurobasket 2022. He arrived at Barça in 2023 as a major national signing.
The blaugrana club brought him back from the NBA to make him one of the team's key inside players. But a year later, the relationship has deteriorated to unsustainable limits. In the locker room, he no longer has everyone's trust, and the board isn't hiding that they're looking for an amicable exit.
Willy is the most expensive player on the roster, and his performance over the last two years hasn't matched his salary.
Scariolo wants him as a cornerstone in his new white project
That's where Real Madrid comes in. The new white coach, Sergio Scariolo, knows him better than anyone. He coached him on the Spanish national team for many years and fully trusts his competitive character and leadership skills.
According to sources close to the deal, Scariolo has already given the green light. Florentino is ready to make the decisive move: bring him to Real Madrid.
At Barça they're fed up and in Madrid they're waiting for him with open arms
At Palau, they want nothing more to do with him. Tired of his gestures, his lack of consistency in key games, and his distant relationship with some of the locker room's heavyweights, the blaugrana club wouldn't stand in the way of his departure.
The worst part: in the offices, they've already accepted that they'll see him wearing white. Just like with Luis Figo. Or, in basketball's case, like Heurtel, Hezonja, or Hanga recently.
Just like with Mirotic at the time (although in the opposite direction). Another stab between eternal rivals.
A signing that will ignite the Spanish basketball clásico
Willy's arrival at Real Madrid would undoubtedly be the bomb of the summer. Because of his career, his nationality, his connection to Barça... and what it represents: a culé symbol crossing the line to wear white.
No one at Barça would forgive him. Meanwhile, in Madrid, they're already celebrating what could be a new golden chapter in its eternal rivalry with the blaugranas.
Florentino Pérez has already shown that when it comes to symbolism, he has no qualms. This, in terms of image, would be a statement in basketball as well.
Willy Hernangómez's signing for Real Madrid is taking shape quietly... but it could explode at any moment.