Cristiano Felicio, during the dispute of the last World Cup in China, in 2019. /
The pivot, with extensive NBA experience at Chicago Bulls, is currently concentrated with the Brazilian team
Covirán Granada is very close to getting the piece that closes its inside game. Once Luke Maye is already training with the team, as well as Jacobo Díaz, Ramón Vilà and ‘Petit’ Niang, who continue from last season, and the addition of captain David Iriarte, the name that underpins the red and black paint could well be that of Cristiano Felicio.
The Brazilian player, who turned 30 on July 7, is currently concentrated in his country with his national team, preparing the qualifying matches for the 2023 World Cup in the ‘FIBA window’, in which the Canarinha will visit Puerto Rico and will receive Mexico, as well as the next Copa América, which will be held precisely in Brazil from September 2 to 11.
As IDEAL has learned, Covirán accelerated its interest in Felicio this week, once the red and black club got tired of waiting for a positive response from the Greek Kostas Antetokounmpo, who for a time was Pablo Pin’s ‘plan A’ and Óscar Fernández-Arenas for the ‘5’ position. The wait, and the possibility of incorporating a player with the Brazilian’s CV, a market opportunity of many carats for a modest club, have made the team from Granada not delay any longer and go for his signing.
Cristiano Felicio is a 2’10 meter tall player who has spent a good part of his career in the NBA. After standing out for Flamengo in his country, he spent six seasons with the Chicago Bulls, playing a total of 252 games in the American competition. In his best season in Illinos, 2017-18, he played 55 games, starting 16 of them as a starter, with averages of 5.6 points and 4.2 rebounds. Last season he played for the first time on the Old Continent, achieving a very good level at the German Ratiopharm Ulm. There he recorded 11 points and 8.4 rebounds in the Teutonic competition, and 12.1 goals and 7.7 rebounds in the eleven games he played in the Eurocup, becoming the great inside reference of the team from Albert Einstein’s hometown . Of course, Felicio missed the final part of the season after suffering an injury to his left foot.
Finally, it should be noted that, if the verbal agreement already existing between both parties is signed, the pivot would occupy a non-EU position, since he does not have more nationality than the Brazilian, so together with Luke Maye he would occupy the second place allowed by the League Endesa for citizens of such condition. In this way, the remaining piece that Covirán needs, and that will go to a player who can act as a base and escort, must necessarily be occupied by a national, community or Cotonou.
