Manresa, Catalonia, former Bàsquet Manresa captain Dani Pérez says his next career decision will be a family matter. Speaking to Regió7 and El Ganxo at Kibuc Manresa, he reflected on his departure after seven years at the club and on what comes next.

Pérez said he is no longer making choices as an individual, because his wife, Laura, and their children now come first. He said he needs to see his family regularly and described being away for long periods as a red line, while also weighing where they can settle and stay close to extended family.

He also spoke about Laura’s experience in Manresa, including her work as a nurse and the language barrier she faced at first. Pérez said her effort over seven years showed how well the family had settled in the city, and he stressed that players with children should stay connected to the community beyond basketball.

Looking back on his time at the club, Pérez said his move to Manresa came shortly after his wedding, when coach Pedro Martínez had replaced the originally appointed Peñarroya. He checked with sporting director Román Montañez, who told him the club still wanted him, and Pérez said that turned into five magnificent years under Martínez.

He said he joined at 29 after a strong season that ended in relegation with Gipuzkoa, and that Manresa felt like the right chance to prove himself. He had other offers, but the club’s place in the Champions League, plus his links with Montañez and Joan, made the decision easy.

Pérez is not currently considering coaching, again because of family reasons. He said a player’s career is finite, while a coach’s can last much longer, which he finds daunting. For now, he wants to keep playing and later pursue other interests after retirement. He also said the decision to leave Manresa had been building over the season, and that it felt like the right moment for both sides to part on good terms.

He recalled the 2021-22 season as especially memorable, including a strong first quarter against Unicaja in the BCL, when he felt Manresa could win by a wide margin. He said injuries to himself, Francisco and Dani García stopped the team reaching the Final Four, and he still wonders what might have happened with a full squad. Pérez also said he will miss everything about Manresa, especially his routine, and plans to keep wearing number 55 wherever he goes next.