By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The tumultuous summer surrounding Betclic Elite champions AS Monaco has taken yet another dramatic turn.
According to a report by L’Equipe on Wednesday, former NBA All-Star Jamal Mashburn has abruptly withdrawn his takeover bid. The 53-year-old entrepreneur, representing the Helen Holdings investment fund, missed a deadline to secure the €10 million in financial guarantees demanded by the French National Olympic and Sports Committee.
Faced with this sudden setback, management for La Roca Team quickly pivoted toward a previously sidelined rescue package. Financed by the Clayton Sport investment fund and bolstered by the prominent backing of Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho, this alternative group has provided a vital safety net by committing to fund the franchise even if it faces forced demotion to a lower tier.
Because compiling the necessary administrative paperwork requires additional time, Monaco’s legal representation has formally petitioned the CNOSF to delay their upcoming hearing. The club is seeking to push the date to August 25 to ensure the Ronaldinho-backed proposal, currently the organization’s sole remaining viable path to survival, can be properly evaluated.
Securing this extension is essential for Monaco to avoid severe administrative demotion within French basketball and potential exclusion from the 2026–27 BKT EuroCup campaign.
Should regulatory authorities reject the requested delay, the club’s timeline to assemble a competitive roster will narrow drastically ahead of the late-September season opener, particularly as domestic and continental rivals have already commenced their preseason training camps.
This crisis stems from a ruling by the French Federation of Basketball, which officially denied the reigning champions entry into France’s top-tier leagues.
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