Kobe Bryant turns downs $6.7 million offer from Italian club; demands $15 million: NBA Update
Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar Kobe Bryant has officially commented on the Italian club Virtus Bologna’s offer of $6.7 million a year. Not only did he decline that offer but now he has demanded $15 million a year which turns out
approximately $7.5 million after taxes.
According to an Italian website, Kobe and his agent Rob Pelinka has proposed this new deal and to arrange this kind of huge money is very difficult for Bologna’s management. After hearing this demand from Kobe and his agent, Virtus
Bologna president Claudio Sabatini said this will be a very tough task for our management who has recently found out sponsor to fund Kobe Bryant’s potential contract with our franchise.
According to that website, Sabatini vigilantly spoke over this new demand from Kobe and said our club cannot afford to give this huge amount of money for a whole year instead we can offer this deal for two months only.
Recently, the Bologna management also arranged a sponsor to fund Kobe’s potential contract when Claudio Sabatini officially announced in the media,
"We have a sponsor supporting us. It's an Italian company that's known all over the world, we will soon have a meeting. It's a huge gamble but I want to try right to the end. I'm an optimist even if there we're aiming very high.”
However, now Sabatini is facing another challenge to bring Kobe Bryant in-to the Bologna’s roster. Kobe, who is currently busy touring different countries with his sponsor NIKE, is expected to land in Italy next week and some speculations’
also suggest as Kobe and Sabatini will be having a potential meeting.
Last week, Kobe was in Turkey where he inaugurated two renovated basketball courts near Caddebostan area, Istanbul. He has also stopped in Greece as part of the tour and had a speaking session with the media. When Kobe was asked
by one particular reporter about the potential offers he is receiving from different professional basketball clubs, Kobe answered,
“It is very difficult to win in NBA. You must reach your limits if you want to succeed. Of course, I want to win more NBA title with Los Angeles Lakers. Now that there is lockout, the phone rings. Anyone who wants to make me a
proposal can call, from Greece or Europe,”
Kobe Bryant is certainly a world class player and every basketball franchise would love to include him into its roster. He and along with many other NBA players are still not hurrying for a potential overseas playing chance. They
are looking keenly into the negotiations between the NBA owners and the Players Association that have yet to come up with a positive result over labour issues.
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