The prodigal son returns home. Ricky Rubio returns to the Penya 16 years later. He Badalona Youth Club He announced on Tuesday the signing of the Spanish base, in which he also represents his return to professional basketball, after a sabbatical season after leaving Barça in 2024, now signing only for the next year by the team led by Dani Miret.
«The Joventut Badalona and Ricky Rubio club have reached an agreement for next seasonand the Catalan base will defend the colors of the Penya until June 30, 2026. 16 years later, Ricky and the Joventut re -unite their paths with the aim of enjoying all together again, ”he announced the Verdinegro club in a statement.
Previously, through its social networks, the entity had published a video in which a banner is seen on the track of the Olympic of Badalona with the word ‘BENTORRNAT’ (‘Welcome again', playing with the double R of Ricky Rubio), implying the return of the base 16 years after his march.
BENTORRNAT 🙌#CityOfBadalona pic.twitter.com/G2XM9ivFxT
– Club Joventut Badalona (@Penya1930) July 22, 2025
This video joined a previous publication in which two hearts could be seen, with the greenish colors, and a ‘TORRNA’ Playing with the two initials of the name and surname of the base of El Masnou (Barcelona), which at 34 chooses to return to the clues, despite the fact that In June he launched a marketing campaign that many interpreted as their farewelldenied by himself to clarify that it was a message of thanks.
Back home
After the official announcement of the Catalan club, The base He returns to what was his home from 2005 to 2009. Ricky debuted with the Joventut in the Endesa League on October 15, 2005, with only 14 years and 11 months, becoming the youngest player to debut in the maximum competition of Spanish basketball.
Despite its youth, the base became a star of the greenish teamwhere he achieved the FIBA Eurocup of 2006, the Copa del Rey and the Uleb Cup of 2008. In 2009 he signed for Barça, managing to expand his record with the Euroleague of 2010 and the 2011 League, before leaving to the NBA to play with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
In his 12 years in the American league, the Catalan base played for the Minnesota Timberwolveslos Utah jazz, los Phoenix Sunsagain in the Timberwolves, And finally in the Cleveland Cavaliersbefore stopping on the way to take care of your mental health. In March 2024, with Barça, he completed what has been his last season so far as a professional.
In the scope of selections, Ricky Rubio It has a unique palmarés where the Gold in the 2019 World Cup being the MVPas well as two golds in the Eurobasket (2009 and 2011), and an Olympic silver in Beijing (2008). Last June the base of El Masnou launched a campaign that many interpreted as an official farewell to his career. However, he himself took care of him and ensure that it was only a “thanks” and that he was still in the process of deciding whether he was still active or opted for the withdrawal. Days after this announcement, the 'Penya' has officially made Ricky's return 16 years after his march.
«But beyond numbers and palmarés, Ricky's figure is that of a player born in Masnou who has loved, loves and will always love the Penya. 16 years after his last game with the Joventut shirt, Rubio will defend the colors of a team where it is a legend, a reference, with a clear objective: to smile again playing the sport he likes most: basketball ”, has ended the statement of the Verdinegro club, which will carry out the presentation act this Wednesday at 11.30 in the press room of the Palau Olílpic.
