The coach of the Bulgarian women's national team, Marcello Abbondanza, admitted that his future at the helm of the Turkish giant Fenerbahçe Medicana remains unclear, despite having two more years on his contract.
In an interview broadcast by the Italian publication OA Sport, the specialist revealed that he continues to hold talks with the club's management, as the change of president has led to a change in the situation and a new rearrangement of relations.
"I don't know. I'm talking to the club and I still don't know what I'm going to do. At the moment, some things are changing again because the president has been replaced once more," Abbondanza stated.
Regarding the clarification that, according to publications in Turkey, he would continue to lead the team, the Italian reminded that he has an active contract for two more seasons, but nevertheless did not rule out the possibility of problems arising.
"I have two more years on my contract. Nevertheless, I believe there might be problems. Not everything depends solely on what the clubs do. At some point, the coach also decides what environment he wants to work in," he explained.
Abbondanza was adamant that he would only stay if there was a shared vision and common goals between him and the management.
"If we don't agree on the goals, there's no point in me staying there. If the people coming in don't share my philosophy and my decisions, we sit at the table and find a solution. But as long as I am in the hall, I make the decisions," the Italian specialist emphasized.
His words come after a tense period at Fenerbahçe, during which some fans openly called for his resignation. Discontent peaked after footage from a match circulated, where his behavior towards Melissa Vargas provoked serious reactions in Turkey.
At that time, the club's management, captain Eda Erdem, and Vargas herself defended the coach, explaining that the situation had been presented out of context and there was no conflict between the player and Abbondanza.
The Italian was also criticized for his decisions regarding the use of some key volleyball players, including the team's libero, and a series of inconsistent results further heightened the tension around him.
Against this backdrop, his current admission indicates that his active contract does not guarantee his stay at Fenerbahçe. The main question seems to be not only whether the club wishes to continue with him, but also whether Abbondanza himself is ready to work under the new management conditions.
The specialist also revealed that his family had moved back to Italy about a month ago, and his children are now studying in Cesenatico. He admitted that he would like to work in his home country again, but only if there was an interesting and long-term project.
At the same time, Abbondanza did not rule out another move to Asia, stating that he would accept an offer from Japan or another attractive volleyball market.
Thus, despite his contract with Fenerbahçe, the Italian coach's future remains open, and following the change in management, the upcoming discussions between the two parties will be decisive.