Following three title-free seasons at the Palau Blaugrana, FC Barcelona’s basketball section has undergone a structural overhaul, installing Xevi Pujol as its new sport director to spearhead a radically redesigned roster built for speed, physicality, and high-octane offense.
The changes at the Catalan club arrive amid pointed criticism from former players regarding the organization’s internal priorities. Tomas Satoransky, who departed Barcelona to join Hapoel Tel Aviv, did not mince words when assessing the team’s recent trajectory. According to Satoransky, the club’s struggles over the past two years stemmed from political and economic hurdles, poor roster construction that included signing seven players over the age of 34, and a football-first executive attitude that marginalized the basketball division.
A Complete Leadership Overhaul at the Palau Blaugrana
To reverse a three-year drought, Barcelona’s board initiated a restructuring of the basketball branch. The shakeup claimed several prominent figures, including Xavi Pascual, section head Josep Cubells, and his successor Siscu Pujol. Meanwhile, club legend Juan Carlos Navarro was transitioned out of his managerial post into a newly created role as ambassador and mentor to the club’s youth academy. Navarro signed a ten-year contract in September 2017, and his new agreement features a contractual adjustment running through 2029 that defers the remaining salary on his final year.
Stepping into the high-pressure sporting director role is 36-year-old Xevi Pujol, who arrives on a three-year contract after leaving Baskonia. The transition was notably contentious. When Barcelona targeted Pujol to succeed Navarro, the Basque club refused to negotiate a contract release. Consequently, Pujol terminated his agreement unilaterally—a move that Baskonia officials indicated would prompt legal action through the courts. Mario Bruno Fernández, Navarro’s former right-hand man who assisted in constructing the upcoming squad under Pujol’s oversight, remains in place as assistant sporting director.
The Xevi Pujol Roster Blueprint: Physicality and Pace
Despite the administrative turmoil, the new-look Barcelona squad carries Pujol’s distinct tactical signature. With Aleksander Sekulic installed as head coach, the club has assembled a physical, fast-paced, and heavily offensive roster featuring nine new acquisitions. The backcourt additions include guards Justin Robinson and Umoja Gibson, while the wing positions are reinforced by Tyrese Martin, Stanley Umude, and Agustín Ubal. Up front, Olivier Nkamhoua and Tosan Evbuomwan arrive as power forwards, anchored at the center position by Josh Nebo and Olek Balcerowski. Only four players from the previous campaign remain: Juan Núñez, Darío Brizuela, Kevin Punter, and Joel Parra.
Pujol brings a strong track record to his new post. During a five-year stint at Manresa working alongside coach Pedro Martínez, he helped unearth and manage talent such as Sylvain Francisco, Brancou Badio, Jerrick Harding, Chima Moneke, and Yankuba Sima. He subsequently moved to Vitoria last season, where his tenure at the Buesa Arena proved highly successful. By appointing Paolo Galbiati as head coach and bringing in players like Trent Forrest, Rodions Kurucs, and Mamadi Diakité—supplemented mid-season by Kobi Simmons and Eugene Omoruyi—the Basque side captured the Copa del Rey title.
What Lies Ahead for Barcelona Basketball
As the club prepares for the upcoming competitive calendar, all eyes will turn to how quickly Sekulic can integrate a vastly overhauled roster carrying high physical demands and a swift offensive tempo. The team’s next official fixtures will test whether Pujol’s formula can finally restore championship success to Barcelona after a turbulent three-year dry spell.
