FCBARCELONA.CAT

04.08.2007 15:43

Navarro delighted with NBA switch

Carles Cascante

Juan Carlos Navarro has spoken out a day after reaching an agreement to join the Memphis Grizzles and revealed that he is delighted to have finally found a club in the NBA, having left AXA FC Barcelona at the end of last season.

After several weeks of indecision, Washington withdrew the obstacles to a move and allowed the transfer of the player's rights to Memphis. "I am incredibly happy and pleased that I have reached a deal with the Grizzlies," he said. "Although not everything is signed, I think that a deal is very close and that things are in place."

Difficult times

Navarro, who is currently in Cádiz preparing to play for Spain the European tournament, admitted that the last few days have not been great for him: "I had a difficult time and not what I was expecting, but people know that I am not moving for money and that I have always had the desire to play over there," he continued. After one season with the Grizzlies he will become a free agent and will be able to negotiate with whom he wants. "Then I will depend on upon myself and I have faith in my chances," he added.

Playing alongside Pau Gasol, his friend and former team-mate, is also something that he is relishing: "It has been a driving force and I am very pleased to be able to play with him again."