Sylvain Francisco was still immersed in the EuroLeague playoffs. Zalgiris faced Game 4 against Fenerbahçe (which ended 3-1 for the Turks), but that didn’t stop the buzz surrounding the French point guard’s future. Regardless of the outcome, he will leave Kaunas. According to Basketball Sphere, Francisco’s next destination could be Dubai Basketball, which is reportedly close to finalizing a deal with the Frenchman. The agreement would include an NBA opt-out clause.
Francisco (28 years old, 1.85 m) has been one of the top performers in European basketball this season. Named to the All-EuroLeague First Team, he averaged 16.7 points and 6.4 assists, earning a 19.5 PIR in his second year with Zalgiris. Those numbers have caught the attention of many clubs, including Barcelona.
Over two months ago, Alessandro Luigi Maggi and Catalunya Ràdio reported Barcelona’s interest, later confirmed by the player himself. “Last year I wanted to, and this year things happened,” Francisco said in an interview with PickandRollTV. “I love Barcelona, it was the club of my dreams when I was at Manresa.”
But Francisco wasn’t the only one on their radar. He would abandon any proposal if the NBA came calling. Olympiacos and especially Panathinaikos were also interested, but events seem to have taken a 180-degree turn. The point guard could end up in Dubai, a club that also covets Barcelona coach Xavi Pascual.
The Emirati team debuted in the EuroLeague this season but finished outside the play-in spots, missing their initial goal. That’s why they are planning a major overhaul for next season, already confirming their first signing: Jaron Blossomgame, currently with AS Monaco.
Of Angolan descent, Francisco has played for France in two major tournaments: the 2023 World Cup and the 2025 EuroBasket. He spent his high school years in the United States but went undrafted. Returning to Europe, he played for Metropolitans 92, Paris Basketball, and Coral Roanne before joining Pedro Martínez’s Baxi Manresa (2021-22), where he averaged 10.7 points and 3.3 assists. He later played for Peristeri and Bayern under Pablo Laso, who is another candidate for the Dubai coaching job. Both could reunite next season.
A Major Blow for Barcelona?
Dubai’s ambition to build a team with genuine Final Four aspirations could become a major headache for Barcelona. The Blaugrana plan to use next summer as a launchpad, increasing their squad investment and giving Xavi Pascual a team capable of competing toe-to-toe with EuroLeague elites.
Francisco wanting to try his luck in the NBA is one thing. But a rival team like Dubai BC making offers that Barcelona, in principle, cannot match is quite another. And it doesn’t stop there: days ago, it was nearly certain that Barcelona had secured Alpha Diallo, the Monaco forward (2.01 m, 28 years old) who was named EuroLeague Defensive Player of the Year this season. He was considered a strategic, foundational move for the new Barcelona project.
However, several European media outlets now report that Diallo will also play in Dubai. If confirmed, this would be another heavy blow to Barcelona’s ambitions, proving that in today’s market, wanting is not the same as being able. In recent years, they haven’t wanted to spend, but now they have saved—only to find that money alone may not be enough.
