Italy: Bulleri Parts Company With Benetton

18.06.2005

The face of Benetton Treviso continued to change on Saturday with the club announcing that their Italian international Massimo Bulleri will leave after rejecting a contract extension.

Earlier this week, head coach Ettore Messina joined CSKA Moscow on a three-year contract, with the Italian giants handing the reins to David Blatt.

I've been here 10 years and I have grown as a man and as a player
Massimo Bulleri

The 27-year-old Bulleri, a 1.88m tall point guard who was a member of Italy's silver medal winning team at last summer's Olympics, has been linked with a move to rivals Armani Jeans Milano and Spanish giants Barcelona but has yet to confirm his future destination.

NBA scouts have also been watching the player closely this season.

"I have been very fortunate here at Benetton," said Bulleri on the club's official website, www.benettonbasket.it.

"I have been able to fight for important aims, to be able to have a unique vision in Europe and to have coaches of the highest level who have made me improve technically.

"I want to thank everyone, La Ghirada (Benetton's training ground) has been my family for many years and it will always have a special place for me."

Bulleri, who arrived at Benetton at the age of 17, helped the team clinch three Scudetti, three Italian Cups, among other trophies.

This season he guided Benetton to the Coppa Italia and a first-place finish in Lega A.

The league's coaches, and team captains voted Bulleri Lega A Player of the Year.

"I've been here 10 years, since I was a boy and I have grown as a man and as a player, so it's a very sad day for me," said Bulleri.

Bulleri's departure complete a frustrating end to the season for Benetton fans, who watched their team bow out in the Euroleague at the quarter-final stage and then lose in the Lega A semi-finals against Milano.


RELATED NEWS

Bulleri Joins Virtus On Loan04.12.2007
Surgery Sidelines Bulleri27.11.2007
Italy: Bulleri Joins Armani Jeans Milano22.06.2005
Italy: Milano In The Hunt For Bulleri20.06.2005
Italy: Bulleri Delight At Award Success31.05.2005
Italy: Bulleri Suffers Injury Blow04.05.2004
Italy: Garbajosa and Bulleri Fire Benetton to Win20.04.2004

Advertisement