Olimpia: Ettore Messina’s dig at Devon Hall’s farewell

Olimpia: Ettore Messina’s barb on Devon Hall’s farewell

Olimpia Milano coach Ettore Messina took stock of the situation in a press conference ahead of the new season. Messina spoke about the goodbyes of Nicolò Melli and Devon Hall, both of whom have moved on to Fenerbahce. "Nicolò è a great player, he gave us a lot and was a reference point for us. Forò you know that in life there are times when mutual expectations, of how you see situations, do not match".

On Hall he did not spare a barb: "We would have liked him to stay with us but è he was ill-advised…", he said smiling and jokingly referring to Melli and Datome, with whom Hall spoke before the move to Turkey. 

On Napier's farewell: "Shabazz è a guy we are very close to. Two years in a row è he came to the team in difficult times and did a lot to change those situations. If we won two of those titles, he gave us a lot. We decided to do a different project, rejuvenate the team. We talked with him, the mutual expectations were different. I’m glad he went to play at Bayern, è a great club. Both about him and Voigtmann I can only say good things".

On Hines: "He leaves an important void. È a player of great prestige, of great personality, of great consistency, of great fairness, and therefore a daily example. È he has been our Tim Duncan all these years: few words, a few raised eyebrows when things he felt needed to be corrected, high level of requirement towards himself".