Ramagli: “The transfer of rights is in line with the law, but that’s not the point”

In an interview with *Il Messaggero Veneto*, Alessandro Ramagli, the seasoned head coach of Tenezis Verona, spoke not only about the promotion his team secured but also about the phenomenon of the buying and selling of rights that has upended the men’s Serie A in Italian basketball.

““I’m not an expert on these specific regulations, but it seems everything is within the rules,” he pointed out. “The point, however, is something else: in sports, when people don’t understand certain situations, that’s not a positive sign at all. My opinion is an emotional one, because we operate in a context where we strive to convey emotions.”.

Ramagli’s story with Verona has deep roots and, as he himself emphasized after the renewal of his contract through June 30, 2028—made official on June 25—has been anything but straightforward: “Some stories, even when they seem to be over, take immense detours and then come back around. Twelve months ago, it seemed as though my adventure in Verona had come to an end, yet here we are today celebrating a victory, a prestigious promotion to Serie A, and the contract extension that will allow me to continue leading this team and representing the city of Verona.”

Promotion to Serie A came at the end of a playoff final against Rimini, with the Livorno-born coach taking the time in the press conference—even before discussing his own team—to pay tribute to the defeated opponents: “Right now, I’m only focused on those applauding the home team, Rimini. Because they deserve this applause for the extraordinary season they’ve had and for reaching their second final in two years.” At the climax of the series, Federico Zampini’s baskets proved decisive, sealing the victory once and for all in the final game.

Ramagli is well aware that the move up a division presents a challenge on a scale far different from that of A2, and he did not hesitate to warn his team: “We know how tough the league will be; we know we’re the newcomers, but we’ll always have the pride and the desire to defend our home court—which, for me, is Verona in every sense.” A veiled warning to rivals as well, accompanied by a promise to instill that mindset throughout the entire team: “I’m certain we’ll be able to instill in everyone who’s part of this team the desire to defend it. Nothing could have a greater impact in a league where there will be top-tier teams and where we’ll have to fight tooth and nail to snatch every victory.”