Virtus Bologna and its coach Dusko Ivanovic finally have a new long

After a long search, Virtus Bologna and its coach Dusko Ivanovic finally have a new long: through a note, the Italian champion club announced it has reached a multi-year agreement with Aliou Diarra.

Aliou Fadiala Diarra, a 208 cm center born in 2001, made his professional debut with Stade Malien, immediately imposing himself in BAL 2023 where he won the “Defensive Player of the Year” award. Since 2024 he has played in Rwanda with APR, with whom he won the league and cup. In 2025 he set the record for the most number of stoppages in a BAL match and was voted the competition’s best defender for the second time.

With the Mali national team he is among the protagonists of the just concluded AfroBasket, leading Mali to its first final and silver medal in its history and being included in the best quintet of the competition, thanks in part to his performance against Ivory Coast in the quarterfinals, 35 points and 16 rebounds. On July 8, he was selected as the first pick for the Dallas Mavericks at the G-League International Draft.

“Diarra’s arrival is in continuity with recent completed market transactions, reinforcing the idea and identity of a team built together with coach Ivanovic on energy, athletic freshness and the future, without sacrificing immediate competitiveness. Aliou has been a protagonist in AfroBasket dragging his national team to a historic result and competing against Euroleague-level role peers such as Tavares, Bruno Fernando and Bango, as well as being a player of interest for the Dallas Mavericks” said the general manager of the Felsinei Paolo Ronci.