Maxi Fjellerup: “Marc Gasol told me that I would have a good time in Girona and that I would be calm and comfortable”

Introduce yourself to the fans: who is Maxi Fjellerup?

I am a young man raised inArgentina, in a village of 60,000 inhabitants, Three songs, who started playing football because all my friends did, and then I ended up discovering basketball. My father played basketball all his life, in regional categories. One day I went to see him, I started training, and he followed everything, until when I was 10 I had to choose. Even though I was crying at first and I hadn’t finished my weight, I chose basketball. And I ended up getting passionate. It was emotional to play, for example, two seasons with my father, when I was only 14, on the same provincial category team. Then there I made a more professional career, first in Bahia and later on San Lorenzo.

It promised a lot. When he went with the national team to the 2019 World Cup, and was the youngest on the team, he was described as a “jewel”. Has Girona signed a jewel?

These are the things that journalists and coaches say, I don’t pay much attention to them. For me, the education they have given me at home involves sacrifice, effort, work, and always trying to keep improving, so I have never been carried away by praise. I’ve always been calm. I’ve been to one world, in several windows with the selection, and I feel privileged to have been able to live it because there were also many other guys who were very good.

Last summer he decided to take the step of coming to Europe. Because?

My representative Igor Crespo, is Spanish, and I really wanted to come here, to compete and discover another basketball and another culture. In Argentina he had already finished a cycle, he had been champion with San Lorenzo for the last two years, he was finishing his contract, and it was time to come here. To keep improving and try to get to theACB. In the end the first destination was Palma, to the LEB Or, and although at first I didn’t know much about the category, the truth is that I was surprised by the level and competitiveness of the teams. I’m happy.

On December 17 he played in Fontajau with Palma against Girona. Who was to say that a month later, they would sign him …

Yeah Al that sounds pretty crap to me, Looks like BT aint for me either. Being able to come to Fontajau, face us in Marc (Gasol) with all that generated … I wanted to play well so I could stay here for more years, that the game was like a showcase because I knew a lot of people would see it. There was also a large crowd in the pavilion.

Did you talk to Marc Gasol that day?

We talked, yes, during the game, and a little later. I asked him for the shirt, and he told me he would give it to me later … now I don’t have to wear it (laughs) because I’m already playing for Girona.

How did you get the offer? Did you have to think hard to accept it?

I have always fulfilled my contracts with the clubs. I’ve never left anywhere in the middle of the season, because I find it weird to do so. I was sorry to leave Palma, which was the club that had initially bet on me. At first I would have stayed there, but later talking to friends, the club people there themselves, they told me that this was a great opportunity for me to keep growing. I also talked to Marc. He told me that he already understood that it was not easy to leave a team in the middle of the season, but that I would have a great time here, that I would be very calm and comfortable. After a couple of days I already had a clear decision to come to Girona. But it’s true, the offer took me by surprise because I had never considered leaving Palma.

During the ACB stage, Argentines such as Fede Kammerichs and Lucas Victoriano had played in Girona.

I know them both! I didn’t know they had played in Girona. I know that this is a historic place in Spanish basketball, and that it has a long tradition. In fact, when I came to play for Palma last month, I saw that the fans were very numerous and familiar. I liked. The infrastructure of the club, the pavilion, the amenities, the fitness room … everything is very professional club. I want to enjoy the day to day, to come to train, to play, and to give my best.

What do you expect from this stage in Girona?

First of all, meet the goals as a team. Then evolve as a player, improve, aspire to better. The team is made up of 12 players. I have to add to the dynamics of the team, which has also changed because the arrival of Marc changed everything. The other day a Madrid I was nervous about playing by his side, but the whole team helped me a lot and I felt great.

Is the ACB your goal?

I hope to get there with Girona. But first we have to be competitive and arm ourselves as a team. I would also like to return to the selection. It’s very nice to be there, and it’s an honor to defend it.