Crvena Zvezda President: We Had a Gentleman's Agreement with Nikola Vučević

Crvena Zvezda president Željko Drčelić confirmed discussions with Nikola Vučević, stating that the door remains open for his potential future acquisition.

Earlier this summer, the Montenegrin star was linked with a move to the Serbian powerhouse before ultimately returning to the Orlando Magic.

In an interview with "Meridian Sport," Drčelić, the president of the "Red Star" club, confirmed that both parties had engaged in negotiations and explained why the deal didn't materialize.

"There were discussions," Drčelić revealed. "First and foremost, Nikola is an excellent person, but also a huge Zvezda fan. That doesn't automatically mean he'll become a Crvena Zvezda player. He's a family man who has lived in the United States for over 20 years, since his high school days. Such decisions aren't easy, and in his case, money was absolutely not a factor," the Belgrade club's boss added.

Ultimately, Vučević remained in the NBA and rejoined the Orlando Magic.

"We had a gentleman's agreement that if he didn't receive an NBA offer, he would don the Crvena Zvezda jersey. As he is an elite athlete who continues to look after his body and career, it's clear that the door isn't closed," Drčelić further explained.

He also hinted that Zvezda's roster building might not be complete, following the arrivals of Chris Jones, David Krämer, Jonathan Motley, Patrick Baldwin Jr., and Vojin Medarević, as well as the contract extension for Jared Butler.

"We haven't finished our work yet," Drčelić stated, adding that all new signings and departures were agreed upon with new head coach Ibon Navarro, and the squad selection aligns with his vision for the team.

"We have a good team. If an opportunity arises to strengthen it further, we will certainly seize it," Drčelić concluded.