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nov 02 2026Eli Ndiaye returns home ahead of schedule. Real Madrid has decided to execute the recall option included in his loan to Asisa Joventut, and the power forward will rejoin the white team to bolster a roster ravaged by injuries. The operation accelerated in recent days: after Sunday's victory over Burgos, head coach Pedro Martínez himself acknowledged he would like to see "if there's a possibility" of getting him back, though he clarified the decision wasn't his to make.
The paint at minimum strength
The injury list explains the urgency. Mikael Jantunen suffered a complete rupture of the plantar fascia in his left foot, Gaby Deck is out for approximately four months with a shoulder injury, and Usman Garuba hasn't played since the Final Four in May. They're joined on the perimeter by Theo Maledon, with a knee sprain, and Nick Smith Jr. With the double competition underway, Pedro Martínez needed another player in the interior rotation, and Ndiaye, who completed preseason with the team, is the quickest option.
His status as a homegrown player is another advantage: it allows him to enter Liga Endesa rosters without affecting quota limits, something useful for managing minutes for a squad carrying heavy load.
Read also:
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- Asisa Joventut beginning to worry, loss to Surne Bilbao (78-81)
From NBA dreams to Valencia's interest
Ndiaye's trajectory has taken many turns in a short time. He arrived at Real Madrid's academy at age 13, developed at Valdebebas, and made his EuroLeague debut in 2021. With the first team, he won a EuroLeague title, three league championships, and a Copa del Rey, gradually earning minutes until starting in 19 European games in the 2024-25 season.
In summer 2025, he left for the United States with a dual contract with the Atlanta Hawks, but the experience went wrong. A labrum tear in his shoulder forced him to undergo surgery before making his NBA debut; he only played with the College Park Skyhawks in the G League and was cut on the last day of 2025. This summer, Valencia Basket presented him an offer and Real Madrid matched it through their matching rights, signing a two-year contract. With the paint crowded, the club loaned him to Joventut for playing time.
A strong start in Badalona
At Joventut he found what he was looking for. He won the Supercopa Endesa at the Olímpic and established himself in the Penya's rotation, shooting 73.7% from two-point range with his best game against Barcelona, posting 17 points and a 20 rating. His departure leaves Joventut, which sits 2-4 after losing to Surne Bilbao, without one of its interior players at a delicate moment.
