0
0
Manchester United shocks the sports world with plans to launch a professional basketball team. Italian Basketball Federation President Gianni Petrucci confirms the club already approves joining the groundbreaking NBA Europe league.
Petrucci reveals the Red Devils commit to the new competition in an explosive interview with Corriere dello Sport. He declares the Premier League giants give their full backing to the project.
The NBA drives the ambitious venture. Organizers plan a 10 to 12-team league that launches in the 2027/28 season. Franchises root in Europe’s biggest cities including Manchester, London, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Rome, Berlin, and Munich.
Petrucci stresses the financial firepower behind the move. He points out basketball’s global market hits $50 billion while European basketball generates only $200 million today.
He uses Manchester United as the ultimate proof of concept. Petrucci states that if the world’s most popular football club says yes, the project carries undeniable weight.
Clubs must compete in their domestic leagues alongside NBA Europe participation. This rule ensures the new competition elevates existing structures rather than replaces them.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s influence fuels the decision. The INEOS owner explores fresh revenue streams after taking charge of football operations.
Manchester United boasts basketball heritage. The club ran a successful team in the 1980s that won league titles and drew crowds of 1,500 fans.
