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jul 18 2026Panathinaikos is monitoring Sylvain Francisco again. The French point guard, signed by LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne this summer, is back on the radar of several EuroLeague powerhouses due to economic uncertainty surrounding the club led by Tony Parker.
According to reports, ASVEL had initially projected a record budget of €59 million, but submitted a significantly lower forecast of around €24 million to the French financial control body. This change has raised red flags and cast doubt on the viability of the ambitious project built in Lyon.
Francisco, 28, joined ASVEL on an important three-year contract and was one of the key pieces of the new project alongside names like Daniel Theis, Nick Weiler-Babb, Armoni Brooks, Both Gach, and Yves Pons.
Panathinaikos already tried to acquire the player during the transfer window and has now inquired about his situation again. The interest makes sense: Francisco comes off a brilliant season with Zalgiris, where he was named to the EuroLeague All-Star Five and established himself as one of the most impactful point guards in the competition.
For now, the player is not forcing a move. His NBA clause has already expired and Francisco has decided to wait and see if ASVEL can resolve its financial problems and secure the project presented to him.
The ball is now in the French club's court. If Tony Parker manages to stabilize the situation, Francisco should remain in Lyon. But if ASVEL is forced to permanently scale back its ambitions, Panathinaikos and other European powerhouses will be ready to make their move.
