Serbian volleyball stars Brankica Mihajlović and Maja Aleksić have reportedly departed Turkish club Zeren Spor due to ongoing financial issues, specifically unpaid salaries. Their absence was notably felt during Zeren’s 3-2 defeat to Conegliano in the Women’s Champions League quarterfinal second leg, where the Turkish team fielded a reduced squad of just 12 players. It has been confirmed that their departure and subsequent return to Serbia were not injury-related but directly linked to the club’s failure to pay wages.
Established in 2022, Zeren Spor is facing significant financial difficulties, with reports indicating that both players and staff have received only two salary payments throughout the current season. Despite these profound monetary challenges, the club impressively managed to reach the Champions League quarterfinals and secure a third-place finish in the highly competitive Turkish Sultanlar League. The departure of key players like Mihajlović and Aleksić highlights serious concerns about Zeren Spor’s long-term financial stability and its future competitiveness at the elite level of volleyball.