Tomas Satoransky has opened up about his decision to leave Barcelona after six seasons and begin a new chapter with ambitious EuroLeague side Hapoel Tel Aviv.
The experienced Czech point guard accepted a one-year contract with the Israeli club, which is expected to be based in Sofia due to the situation in the Middle East. Hapoel will play its domestic league games in Israel, while it remains unclear whether the club will be able to host EuroLeague opponents in Tel Aviv during the season.
For Satoransky, however, the move represents more than simply a change of clubs. After an exhausting period in Barcelona and ongoing physical problems, the 34-year-old was looking for a role with less responsibility and a more manageable workload.
Satoransky accepts reduced role alongside Vasilije Micic
Satoransky knows he will not be Hapoel’s primary playmaker.
Vasilije Micic is expected to lead the team from the point guard position, while the Czech international could operate as the second or third option in the backcourt. Rather than viewing that role as a setback, Satoransky believes it is exactly what he needed at this stage of his career.
“I wanted something less demanding. My role will definitely be like that. I’m not the first point guard because Vasilije Micic is there. I think I’ll be the second or third playmaker, and that’s something I was looking for within the EuroLeague,” Satoransky told Czech outlet Seznam Zpravy.
Barcelona had also told him that his role in domestic competition would be reduced, but the situation changed after the club failed to sign another point guard.
“They promised me at Barcelona that I wouldn’t play as much in the domestic competition, but because we didn’t bring anyone in, that didn’t happen.”
Heavy workload contributed to back problems
The physical demands of recent seasons have taken their toll on Satoransky.
The Czech guard revealed that he has been dealing with back problems for approximately a year and a half, linking them to the heavy workload and accumulated fatigue he experienced during his time with Barcelona.
“At one point, I was playing around 30 minutes in the EuroLeague. After every EuroLeague game, your body is completely destroyed, and then two or three days later we were playing in the Spanish league. I was spending a lot of time on the court there as well. That workload probably wasn’t appropriate given the problem I had.”
At Hapoel, Satoransky hopes to reduce his minutes and focus primarily on the EuroLeague.
He remains confident that he can still contribute at the highest level, particularly after producing one of his strongest EuroLeague campaigns in recent years despite dealing with health issues.
“I’m happy to remain in the EuroLeague because that was my main motivation. Even though I had health problems for the first time, I played one of my best EuroLeague seasons in recent years. I proved to myself that I can still give a lot to a team, whether it’s on defense or in organizing the offense.”
Emotional farewell to Barcelona
Leaving Barcelona was not an easy decision for Satoransky.
His final game for the club came in the Liga Endesa Finals against Valencia, and he admitted that the way the season ended made the farewell even more emotional.
“When the coach took me and Vesely out late in the final, it was difficult to say goodbye while sitting on the bench.”
Still, Satoransky had been considering a change for some time.
He identified head coach Xavi Pascual as one of the few reasons that could have convinced him to remain with Barcelona. Once Pascual decided not to continue with the club, Satoransky felt that his departure had become inevitable.
“When coach Xavi Pascual, who I consider one of the best coaches in Europe, decided not to continue, I sensed that there would be no chance of me staying. He was the only connection that could have kept me there.”
Satoransky criticizes Barcelona’s approach to basketball
The Czech international was particularly critical of the way Barcelona’s football leadership handled the basketball section.
According to Satoransky, political and financial circumstances affected the club’s ability to build competitive teams during his final two seasons.
“I wanted to change environments. We hadn’t had success in the last two years because of political and financial reasons, and we weren’t bringing in the right players.”
He then spoke even more openly about the relationship between the football leadership and the basketball department.
“Barcelona was a huge disappointment in terms of how the football leadership treated basketball. In recent years, they kept putting obstacles in our way, and it became clear that winning wasn’t that important to them. It’s very difficult to fight against that.”
Satoransky admitted that the team did not always perform at the level required but believes reaching the Liga Endesa Finals was an impressive achievement under the circumstances.
“We certainly didn’t play our best, but seven players over the age of 34 were signed. I think it was quite impressive that we lasted until the final against Valencia, where we no longer had any chance.”
Hapoel Tel Aviv aiming for EuroLeague title
After a difficult ending in Barcelona, Satoransky is now turning his attention to Hapoel Tel Aviv and his upcoming partnership with Micic.
Although he will no longer be the player responsible for carrying the team, he believes he is joining a project with the ambition and resources to compete for the biggest prize in European basketball.
“Now, at Hapoel, we have a visionary owner, and we definitely want to win the EuroLeague. With this move, I’m entering a period in which not everything will depend on me anymore. That’s something I consciously wanted, even though I know it will be difficult for me to get used to it subconsciously.”
After six seasons in Barcelona, Satoransky is preparing for a different role, a different environment and a new challenge – but his ambition to compete at the highest level remains unchanged.
