“A phone call extends your life”, said an old commercial from the 90s. But a 45 second phone call may be enough to let someone know captain that it’s time to look elsewhere. Less than a minute to write the final word on a story lived in several episodes, first in the period in which he revealed himself to the whole world (from 2010 to 2015), then from proclaimed leader at the age of full basketball maturity (2021-2024). But that between Nicolò Melli and Olimpia Milano it will forever be a story that ended in the least desired way. With those 45 seconds of phone call ending up in their own way in the wrong part of history itself.
The reconstruction: “The meeting and then that phone call…”
From the head of the receiver there was Ettore MessinaThe President of Basketball Operations of the EA7 Exchange. The one who had to communicate to “his” captain the end of the relationship, after the negotiation for the renewal of the contract expiring at the end of June was practically dead in the bud (in fact there was never any real negotiation, only a few conversations from April onwards and little more).
“I never thought it would end like this, much less I would never have imagined that I would actually leave. The company made a decision that it was entitled to make, and since two things are done, evidently I was the only one who wanted to find an agreement to stay”.
That phone call, however, is the thing that hurt him the most. “After winning the scudetto we met with Messina, trying to find a first approach after the renewal proposal arrived in April. We talked for a few minutes and told each other that we would be updated, also because it was a fruitful and productive meeting. Clearly, as captain, I made it clear that I was not willing to do everything, but that I also valued my position. A few days later, the phone rang and Messina himself, in just 45 seconds, informed me that the company had decided not to renew my contract. Without explaining to me the reasons for the choice, whether technical or otherwise.”
The return to Fenerbahce feels a lot like nostalgia
That there were some tense nerves rising to the surface was no mystery. The one between Melli and the Armani coach was not always an idyllic relationship: the arrival of Mirotic last summer and the one ratified a few hours ago Josh Nebo they have significantly reduced the space available to the captain, who, even though he travels for 34 springs, feels he still has a lot to say and give to the cause.
It is no coincidence that the Fenerbahce, the team where he had already played from 2017 to 2019 and which had allowed him to take flight towards the NBA (two seasons ai New Orleans Pelicans and a piece of vintage 2021 ai Dallas Mavericks), as soon as I learned that Nick had “freed” himself he made false claims to bring him back Türkiye. Also because al Vader will find many friends and many characters with whom he shared the two years in which he revealed himself to the world of continental basketball, even coming close to success in Euroleague in the 2019 finallost against Doncic’s Real Madrid despite a fabulous performance in the final with 28 points on the scoresheet.
Melli or Messina, was one (really) too many?
The end of the relationship with Milan she is certainly also the daughter of tensions accumulated over time with Ettore Messina. With which the idyll went to alternating current: two strong characters, two different ways of seeing things, above all the awareness of being able to interpret situations according to one’s own experience. “At times our relationship has been destructive, but the most important thing is that everyone has always wanted the good of the team, putting the personal one first. Everyone has their own ideas, they are often different, but what matters is finalizing everything to make the group perform at its best.”
Evidently Messina he preferred to look elsewhere and consider even a captain like too much Melli, soul of an Olimpia that was built to compete to the maximum in Italy (the three championships in a row prove it) but above all in Europe, where even the last three years have proved decidedly lacking in satisfaction (a play-off lost in 2022 against Efes and two missed post seasons). However, the Euroleague still has Melli in its sights: The Fenerbahce it also reached the final four in the last season and wants to aim to repeat itself in the next one too. Although Nick first he has a five-circle dream that will necessarily pass through the pre-Olympic next week in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
