Virtus Bologna's 2024–25 season was a whirlwind of triumph and turmoil. Off-court chaos, managerial shake-ups, and financial uncertainty loomed large—but on the court, Dusko Ivanovic led the team to a stunning Italian championship. With key players departing and ownership shifting, the club now stands at a pivotal crossroads. What comes next could define the future of Virtus?
For Virtus Bologna, the season that just ended with the Italian championship victory was not an easy one.
Last summer was turbulent, with rumors of tensions between Massimo Zanetti, the majority owner, and Carlo Gherardi, the club's main minority shareholder.
There was talk of possible interest from a group of Israeli entrepreneurs in purchasing shares in the club, but the negotiations stalled.
Work on the transfer market began with a significant delay, both due to internal difficulties at the club and the late confirmation of their place in the EuroLeague.
In short, the start of the season was very complicated for the Bologna-based team. Shortly before the end of the year, Luca Banchi resigned as head coach due to a strained relationship with the club's management and disappointing results in the EuroLeague.
Virtus chose to entrust the team to the experienced Dusko Ivanovic, a specialist in turning around complex situations, to replace Banchi, who ultimately joined Anadolu Efes.
At the beginning of 2025, there were further upheavals within the club.
CEO Luca Baraldi, who had been at Massimo Zanetti's side for years, was dismissed in a very public manner by the owner of Virtus, who accused him of making serious mistakes in managing the budget and of failing to maintain the necessary confidentiality surrounding the club's operations.
The board of directors also underwent significant changes, notably the absence of members close to Carlo Gherardi.
Meanwhile, on the court, despite a fairly short roster, Dusko Ivanovic managed to find the right formula to get the best out of the team and led them to first place in the regular season.
He guided them to the final victory in the championship, eliminating rivals Olimpia Milan in the semifinals and beating Germani Brescia in the final with a dominant 3-0 victory.
However, with the end of the season, several questions have been raised about the team's future.
Potential additions
Looking ahead to next season, Virtus is about to close three deals. The Bologna-based team has already reached an agreement for the arrival of
