Shengelia pays off Barcelona contract, joins Xavi Pascual's Dubai team

Tornike Shengelia has officially parted ways with FC Barcelona, paying a release clause close to one million euros to secure his move to Dubai Basketball. The Georgian forward's decision was heavily influenced by the departure of coach Xavi Pascual, who also left Barcelona for Dubai.

Shengelia, 34, joined Barcelona last summer on a three-year deal and was a standout player for the Catalan club. He led the team in performance ratings in both the Spanish Liga Endesa and the EuroLeague, averaging double-digit points and rebounds. Despite his consistent performance and leadership, Barcelona has struggled, failing to win titles for three consecutive years.

His decision to leave was further compounded by the club's struggles to sign key transfer targets, including Luwawu-Cabarrot and Moses Wright. Reports suggest that Shengelia's shared representation agency with these players, as well as with Pascual and coach Paolo Galbiati, also played a role. Barcelona attempted to retain Shengelia, even agreeing to a contract extension until 2029, but his departure was anticipated.

With Shengelia's exit, Barcelona is now focused on strengthening its frontcourt, which currently includes Olivier Nkamhoua and Tosan Evbuomwan at power forward, and Josh Nebo and Olek Balcerowski at center. The team's new roster under coach Aleksander Sekulic features a mix of returning players and new signings.