Willy Hernangomez returned to Europe for the first time in seven years this summer and signed a three-year deal with Barcelona.
In an interview with Nacho Duque from Marca, the 2022 EuroBasket champion with Spain and MVP of the tournament, explained why he chose to join the “Blaugrana” and not his former team Real Madrid.
“The number of people who have supported me and understood that I came in search of an opportunity, of a place where I feel valued, has surprised me for good. It is a recognition of the player that I am and want to be. I only asked for an opportunity,” Willy Hernangomez said.
“I’m from Madrid, I was born here, but they did not see that I had a place here and I I just wanted to play. From the very first minute, Barca with Juan Carlos [Navarro] and Mario [Fernandez] made me feel loved, and they offered me a project,” the Spanish big man said. “For me, it’s an exciting challenge, and I really want to go, adapt to a new city, be back home close to my family, and, above all, play, enjoy, and compete.”
Willy Hernangomez became the latest former Real Madrid player to sign for Barcelona after Nikola Mirotic and Nicolas Laprovittola.
The Spaniard big man played a total of 312 games in the NBA, having spent two years with the Knicks (2016-18), two years with the Charlotte Hornets (2018-20) and three years with the New Orleans Pelicans (2020-23), respectively.
