Maccabi Tel Aviv Faces Competition From Milan for Partizan Center Bruno Fernando

Following the major signing of Yam Madar, Maccabi Tel Aviv is focusing on acquiring a top center for the upcoming season. The club is pursuing Bruno Fernando, the 27-year-old Angolan center currently playing for Partizan Belgrade. However, Italian club Milan has also entered the race to sign Fernando, who still has one year left on his contract with Partizan. Milan is seeking to strengthen its center position, having only Devin Booker and Ousmane Diop signed for the 2026/27 season so far.

Fernando signed a contract last summer worth 1.5 million euros and is now valued at around two million dollars, a figure Maccabi can afford. Alongside Fernando, Moses Wright, a center who played for Žalgiris last season and reportedly agreed to terms with Barcelona, is also a candidate. Due to Barcelona's financial difficulties, that deal is uncertain, and Milan has become the favorite to sign Wright, potentially paying a 900,000-euro buyout to the Spanish club.

Fernando, standing 2.08 meters tall, has a notable NBA background, having played for Atlanta, Boston, Houston, and Toronto before moving to Europe in the 2024/25 season with Real Madrid. He began the 2025/26 season with Real Madrid but transferred to Partizan Belgrade, where his EuroLeague stats improved from 4.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game to 8.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. The competition between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Milan highlights the demand for a high-caliber center ahead of the next basketball season.