Gasol does not rule out staying at Barça after Olympics

Barcelona, Spain, Jun 24 (EFE).- Spanish basketball player Pau Gasol said Thursday he does not rule out staying at Barcelona for one more year before his retirement and that he would make his decision after the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

In a wide-ranging discussion with Efe, Gasol touched on his plans for the future, playing in the Tokyo Olympics and his brother Marc Gasol potentially signing with Barça.

Question: Barça head coach Jasikevicius said that you would take a few days of holiday to think about your future. Now that you have taken them, do you know what you will do after the Games?

Answer: We will see. We will reflect, disconnect and I’ll talk with my family, see how I feel and we will weigh up my options for the future. But it is still a month and a half away. Now, the only thing I want is to focus on preparing for the Olympics, for this great challenge and to be at the best level I can be. And enjoy this moment, which is passing quickly.

Question: So you don’t rule out staying at Barça?

Answer: In life you can’t rule anything out, we have to be aware about our options but I am in a moment in which I am living the present and seeing what the future holds. I don’t rule it out, but I can’t go into anything else either.

Question: You are in the preliminary squad list for this summer’s Olympic Games. How do you feel about it?

Answer: I’m really looking forward to it and I’m very excited. I think the Olympic Games was one of my goals since I got injured. To play championships with the national team has been my goal throughout my career, but with these setbacks and foot injuries, it became my objective.

I wanted to fight to have the opportunity to play in an Olympic Games at this stage of my career.

I’m looking forward to starting with the national team, to do a good job in helping the team and to be on the final roster for Tokyo.