Valencia Basket Loses Coach Pedro Martínez to Real Madrid

After Valencia Basket's victory in the Liga Endesa, the team faces a historic exodus of players and coaching staff. In addition to the departures of Jean Montero, Branko Badio, and others, the club is losing its head coach.

On Monday evening, Pedro Martínez informed the club of interest from Real Madrid, which is prepared to pay a buyout of one million euros to release the coach from his contract. Valencia Basket's management made a counteroffer, but Martínez turned it down, Tribuna Deportiva reports. 

As the Spanish media wrote, Martínez decided to leave even before the match against Barcelona, since he knew that after the end of the season, most of the key players would leave the club, and that it would be extremely difficult to reassemble the squad that dominated the Spanish championship and performed brilliantly in Europe.

The situation at Real Madrid itself also played a decisive role. After a season without major titles, Sergio Scariolo's position became precarious, and his departure from the head coach post was a foregone conclusion. At the club, where Juan Carlos Sánchez recently returned to a leadership position together with Alberto Herreros, they believe that Pedro Martínez specifically is capable of making the team successful again.

Martínez extended his contract with Valencia Basket in March until 2028, and management was counting on the agreement being honoured. However, Real Madrid offered a three-season contract, a substantial salary, and a willingness to pay the buyout.