Vincent Poirier has left Real Madrid after more than three seasons, during which he won seven titles. Known for his formidable duo with Edy Tavares in the frontcourt, Poirier has now joined Anadolu Efes Istanbul in search of new challenges and opportunities.

"I left Madrid because I wanted a new challenge, and Efes can give me more minutes and more importance. It's going to be different from Madrid, and I love it here," Poirier told MARCA.

"There were many reasons that could have made me stay, but I needed a fresh start," he added. "Madrid is the best club in the world, both on and off the court. As a Madrid player, you always carry a sense of prestige. I will miss it for sure, but that's life. This was an important decision for my future and my career."

During his time in Madrid, Poirier experienced numerous memorable moments, including a remarkable comeback in the 2023 EuroLeague playoffs against Partizan, where they turned around a 0-2 deficit to win the series 3-2, eventually claiming the EuroLeague title in Kaunas.

"I don't know, it's the shirt. It always seems to happen like that in football and basketball," Poirier reflected on Real Madrid's resilience. "I think it's the veterans who bring that mindset with their talent and experience, which then spreads to the rest of the team. It's always special to wear a white shirt, it's like Red Bull -- it gives you wings. There's no other explanation."

Poirier is eager to take on a leadership role at Anadolu Efes and bring the winning mentality he developed at Real Madrid.

"That's what I want," he said. "With everything I've learned from players like Edy, Sergio Llull, Rudy Fernandez, and Chacho Rodriguez, I want to bring that to Efes and help the team return to the Final Four and beyond."