"Still on his mind!" Greek reports: Panathinaikos pursuing Obradović, but Partizan remains a factor

With Ergin Ataman's departure, Panathinaikos has reportedly set its sights on a familiar face to lead the club back to glory: Željko Obradović. According to Greek media, Dimitris Giannakopoulos has offered Obradović an astronomical contract and complete autonomy in rebuilding the team. He's been given a blank cheque to make any necessary changes, cut players, or bring in new talent – all to secure his return.

Obradović has yet to comment, but Greek outlet "Sport24" reports that the most decorated coach in European basketball history is "99.9% returning to Panathinaikos," a club with which he's won an almost countless number of trophies.

However, journalist Grigoris Papavasiliou of "NovaSport" suggests the situation is far more complex. He claims that, as wild as it may sound, Partizan still plays a significant role in Obradović's decision.

To recap, Obradović left his beloved Partizan at the beginning of last season, after four years at the helm. As he later explained, several factors contributed to his departure, including disagreements with the club's management, specifically president Ostoja Mijailović.

Before the chaos that shook the basketball world in November, Obradović had stated that he would "either work for Partizan or nowhere at all."

After leaving Partizan, the popular 'Žoc' repeatedly stated that he would make a final decision on whether to continue his coaching career after the season concluded.