Real Madrid will maintain control of Eli John Ndiaye's ACB rights. The club matched Valencia Basket's offer within the deadline, preventing the power forward from joining the orange squad.
The decision confirms Madrid's commitment to keeping the door open for a player developed in the academy and with homegrown status, an important asset in building any Liga Endesa roster.
Ndiaye had received a proposal from Valencia Basket, but Real Madrid's right of first refusal allowed the club to match the offer and retain his rights. The white club used the full procedure and ultimately decided to exercise that option.
The move carries special significance in a summer of major changes for Real Madrid, with departures, arrivals, and a squad undergoing full reconstruction under head coach Pedro Martínez.
Valencia Basket, meanwhile, misses out on a piece that fit their search for physicality, youth, and growth potential in the frontcourt.