a-French-Fan wrote:TKainZero wrote:sisibilio wrote:Just for the record, Ibaka went to Spain when he was 17-18 not 15.
Consideringibaka is playing like a 32 year old man, who knows
Actually he went first to France (his father lives in France), spent 3 months in France and then went to Spain (with really strange circumstances). More money in spanish basket-ball ^^ Then I find it normal that after becoming a pro in Spain he chose to play for Spain.
Spain (and more surprisingly ... Serbia) tried to recruit Doumbouya last year because in France there is no exception for athletes, and his naturalization took time.
For me for Ibaka case, the matter is if he was not a great basketball player, ccould he be naturalized? That, Russia, Georgia, Macedonia give a passport to a guy for playing, I don't care, but Spain a UE country, I am quite disappointed.
Anyone knows how many years an immigrant as to stay in Spain for applying for nationality?
Yes, the Ibaka case was something weird, he was naturalized by decree...because here we have a rule that allows to naturalize a foreigner in exceptional circumstances (which ones are very unclear). So he did not comply all the requirements to become naturalized in the same way as any other person not famous. But well, it isn't the same as the Slaughter, McCalleb cases...beacuse does guys didn't know a **** about those countries before being naturalized by them...while Ibaka, spent here 3 years and learned our language and culture, and frequently visits Spain in summer.
Mirotic in the other hand, meet all the requirements to become a spaniard citizen, just as any other immigrant who isn't famous.