Thomas Heurtel returns to Barcelona: after several controversies, the Biterrois makes his return to Europe, before the Blues ?

Le Biterrois Thomas Heurtel n'a plus joué avec l'équipe de France depuis septembre 2022. dpa – Soeren Stache

Thomas Heurtel, 35 ans, va faire son retour en Europe en s'engageant avec le FC Barcelone vendredi après sa visite médicale, a annoncé la presse sportive espagnole ce jeudi 2 janvier.

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Heurtel, who currently plays in China for the Shenzhen Leopards club, is expected to return to FC Barcelona, ​​a club he had already played for between 2017 and 2021, Mundo Deportivo and Marca have announced.

The former French international (99 caps) will replace Brazilian point guard Raulzinho Neto in the Blaugrana squad, whose departure was made official on Thursday.

Read also: “I don't take money from people who kill”, Thomas Heurtel reacts to criticism of his transfer to Russia

He is preparing to return to the Euroleague with the Catalan club, in difficulty this season (11th). He had not played in the most prestigious European basketball competition since 2022, after signing with Zenit Saint Petersburg.

Fauthoux not closed to a return

His two years spent in the Russian club notably deprived him of the French team, making him unselectable by the French Basketball Federation (FFBB).

Heurtel could therefore potentially make his return to the Blues, a hypothesis that the new coach Frédéric Fauthoux did not rule out last September.

The playmaker left FC Barcelona in 2021 in a tense context after having secretly negotiated a contract with Real Madrid.

After the Catalan club terminated his contract, he finally joined Asvel for six months before signing with Real Madrid and then Zenith Saint-Petersburg.