Olimpia is trying to fend off Leandro Bolmaro’s admirers
On the day Luca Banchi was introduced as the new head coach of Olimpia Milano, the red-and-white club’s general manager, Daniele Baiesi, also addressed the future of Leandro Bolmaro, whose contract is currently under negotiation for renewal.
“Both sides know what they want. Bolmaro’s situation won’t turn out like Armoni Brooks’s—that’s all I can say,” emphasized the Milan-based executive, who has often found himself in the crosshairs of Olimpia’s demanding fan base for building a roster whose performance, to date, has fallen far short of expectations, especially in the EuroLeague.
Regarding Bolmaro, as early as October 30, *La Gazzetta dello Sport* had reported that an agreement had been reached to extend his contract through 2029. The Argentine point guard, who arrived in the summer of 2024, had signed a four-year contract with an opt-out clause in the summer of 2027. The newspaper did not provide details on the two-year extension or any internal clauses, but noted that, should an NBA franchise come forward, “it is likely that Olimpia has taken steps to better protect itself.” Bolmaro himself, when asked in September about his future, referred the matter to his agent: “That’s not my business; I just focus on playing.”
Baiesi’s reference to Armoni Brooks is no coincidence. The American, who was MVP of both the regular season and the Finals during the year of the red-and-white “Triplete,” left Milan over the summer after accepting a two-year offer totaling approximately 4.6 million euros from ASVEL Villeurbanne. On November 5, in a 73-84 home loss to Valencia, Brooks scored 16 points against his former teammates, and fans took to social media to voice their regret, pointing the finger at management.
Bolmaro, on the other hand, is one of the few bright spots in Olimpia’s difficult season: against Valencia, he finished as Milan’s top scorer with 16 points, ahead of Diop with 11. Coming off a season in which he was voted the Italian league’s best defender, he helped the team win the Super Cup and the Italian Cup. In the 2026 LBA playoffs, he went on to win the Best Defensive Player and Sixth Man of the Year awards, earning a spot on the Dream Team with averages of 13.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 21.6 minutes.
The team’s standing in the standings explains the tension surrounding the club. The loss to Valencia left Milan in last place in the EuroLeague with a 1-9 record and led to the firing of Peppe Poeta, who was replaced by Banchi—returning to Milan after his stint from 2013 to 2015 and the 2014 league title— with a contract through 2028. As early as late October, Baiesi, in an interview with *La Gazzetta dello Sport*, had taken responsibility for building the roster (“I am responsible for building the team”), specifying that changes on the transfer market would only be made if “players who represent an upgrade” were available. Any moves were also complicated by the fact that non-EU visas had already been exhausted in Serie A, leaving players with EU passports as the only option.
