The announcement of a sale of shares in Tony Parker’s Asvel to Smart Good Things, a company run by Serge Bueno and of which he is a partner and deputy managing director, has created a stir in French basketball. So, in an interview with the Team, Tony Parker wanted to clarify things.
Even if the operation is successful and he is no longer the majority shareholder, the former leader of the Blues and the San Antonio Spurs intends to remain in his post as president and continue to grow a club he has led since 2014. (after entering the capital in 2009).
“I’m not going anywhere, I’m staying at Asvel, he insists. To understand my thinking, my goal is to bring Asvel as high as possible. To be European champion one day with the boys, to be European champion with the girls and continue to increase the value of the club. I try to find the right associations to grow the club. (…) Me, I’m not interested in staying at Asvel to play in the middle of the table. Seen what’s going on right now (Asvel is painfully 7th in the elite), I want to find solutions so that we continue to climb. »
Parker assures him, Serge Bueno will not be at the head of the club. “He doesn’t want to,” he explains. I am Deputy CEO of Smart Good Things, I am on the board of directors, I will become the second largest shareholder of “SGT” and I will have all the powers to manage the sportsman at Asvel. Nothing will change there. I will remain president of Asvel, president of Asvel women, the board will be the same and I will make decisions as usual. »
“It is normal for there to be caution”
The ex-international agrees he’s invested a lot himself and it’s time to pass the buck a bit. “It’s true that I’ve invested a lot over the past three years,” he continues. Because I knew where I was going and what we wanted to accomplish. But there, to go to the next level, I have to have a team with me. I can’t do everything alone. If tomorrow we want to reach the 25 million euro budget to try to be European champion one day or the 10-15 million for girls, I will need help. There is no shame in saying that. I’m really lucky to have great partners, a great family, a great team and I’m just trying to find solutions so that we continue to grow. »
Parker must now obtain the agreement of the other shareholders to finalize the operation. In particular LDLC, an IT company and Jean-Michel Aulas’ OL, which owns 33% of the club. For now, the two parties do not seem convinced.
“These are shareholders who have been with me for a while! We are not going to let anyone into the “family”, slips Parker. It is normal for there to be caution. This is benevolence on the part of my shareholders. It is not because we enter into discussions that there are problems or that it is war. We will discuss and try to find the best possible solution for the club… ”