Dubai has targeted Pablo Laso as its head coach for next season, while Chus Mateo is also in consideration, as learned by Basketball Sphere.
Dubai had a very challenging first EuroLeague season. The club failed to qualify for the play-in, despite delivering several impressive performances late in the campaign, and Jurica Golemac ended up paying the price for it. He was replaced on the bench by Aleksander Sekulic, who will lead the team until the end of the current season, while the ABA League side is already working extensively on bringing in a high-profile name to take charge of the team in the upcoming period.
In recent days, reports emerged that Xavi Pascual is a target for Dubai, but according to information obtained by Basketball Sphere, the situation is developing in a different direction.
As things stand, the possibility of bringing in the Catalan coach appears unrealistic. Pascual is facing a summer in which he will dedicate himself to a complete reconstruction of Barcelona and, with an increased budget promised for next season, attempt to deliver the breakthrough the Blaugrana have been waiting for for a long time. That was also the initial agreement when he left Zenit Saint Petersburg and returned to Catalonia, and it is clear that the current EuroLeague season was viewed as a transitional one for him.
However, Dubai is not moving away from Spanish coaches. The club is currently sounding out Pablo Laso from Anadolu Efes, with the ambitious project seeing him as a potential new head coach. Laso is under contract until 2027, but it is clear that he is approaching the exit door at the club and that a replacement is already being sought. The newly established EuroLeague side is trying to take advantage of that situation. As things can be heard, Chus Mateo is also considered an interesting option, meaning Dubai has placed a special focus on the former Real Madrid coaching tandem.
As the summer approaches, the coaching carousel is becoming increasingly intriguing. At the same time, it is becoming clear just how attractive Dubai has become as an option for numerous coaches across Europe and, without a doubt, one of the most desirable destinations.
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