In his first statements following his arrival in Athens today (19/8) at about 5:00 pm in order to take part in the clover’s pre-season training, Uruguayan center Esteban Batista appeared determined to work hard to help Panathinaikos reach its goals.
“It’s wonderful to be a member of one of Europe’s top teams. I’m happy because I will play next to great athletes like Dimitris Diamantidis. It’s a club with amazing fans, a dominant presence in Europe for years, and it’s important that I’m a member of it,” he stated initially and went on to talk about Panathinaikos head coach, Dusko Ivanovic, with whom he has worked in the past:
“For sure, Mr. Ivanovic’s presence at the club played its role. He had taken me at Caja Laboral in Spain. It’s good for me to come to a team with a head coach I already know. He is an exceptional coach. It’s a big chance for me to play for a top team in Europe.”
He also commented on the fact that this year the team will have many newcomers: “That’s true, we have a team with many new players, but we have an experienced coach, Mr. Ivanovic, who knows how to manage the situation. I believe we can do an excellent job and achieve something good, if we all have a common goal.”
He concluded his statements addressing the club’s fans and giving his word to them: “I will work hard to help Panathinaikos achieve its goals.”
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