MAD Lions have told several of their staff members and players that they would be allowed to explore options for 2024, sources tell Sheep Esports on Friday. This doesn't mean that the players and staff will necessarily be out of the team, as we could still see them with MAD Lions next year.

However, this news might be motivated by some structural changes that MAD Lions are currently discussing.

Uncertainty for MAD's 2024 LEC roster

One day after their elimination from Worlds, MAD Lions appear to be broadening their options for the 2024 off-season. It is again important to note that the team has not made any decisions yet and could choose to retain said players if they wish to do so.

Mid laner Yasin "Nisqy" Dinçer, AD Carry Matyáš "Carzzy" Orság and Support Zdravets "Hylissang" Iliev Galabov are players affected by this news. Most of the coaching staff fall under this category too, sources tell Sheep Esports.

This news is surprising considering that the players are still under contract past 2023. At the moment, Chasy and Carzzy are currently signed until the end of 2025, while Nisqy and Hylissang have contracts expiring one year sooner at the end of 2024.

On top of this, some members of the MAD Lions 2023 coaching staff have also been allowed to explore their options amidst large internal restructuring, regardless of existing contracts.

Missing from current news is Jungler Elyoya, whose contract expires in November of this year. However, he might very well become the key behind the potential changes.

Lions and Riders

Sources have told Sheep Esports that MAD Lions and Movistar Riders have been in discussions for a partnership regarding MAD Lions' LEC spot. This possibility would open up MAD Lions to the growing Spanish market around League of Legends. It is important to note that at this stage no deal has been reached yet.

In case of a deal, Elyoya's re-signing could become of greater priority to the organization and affect roster decisions. The Spanish superstar has expressed wanting to play with AD Carry David "Supa" Martínez García and Support Álvaro "Alvaro" Fernández del Amo. If no deal happens, it's more likely to see MAD Lions keep their current bot lane.

This isn't the first attempt of Movistar Riders at joining the LEC. In 2018, they were an initial franchise-select by Riot Games for the newly formed LEC. However, in a turn of events, Splyce ended up joining the league instead, as reported by ESPN back then. Five years later, the Spanish organization may finally make it back to the biggest competition in European League of Legends.

It remains to be seen if Movistar Riders will pull it off this time.

Ibai Llanos Garatea

KOI is currently facing a lot of uncertainties around their future, as reported by Sheep Esports earlier today. Sources have said that Ibai might be trying to leave the organization amidst disagreements with Infinite Reality.

MAD Lions are one organization interested in working with Ibai, but no deal has been signed either. However, Ibai has expressed his will to work with Elyoya previously.

MAD Lions in 2023

Despite a relatively successful year in the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC), the team has failed to meet fan expectations on the international stage, often fumbling and narrowly clutching an appearance at this year's Worlds event despite winning the LEC Spring split.

At some points throughout the year, the Spanish organization has looked shaky while their players often seemed not to be on the same page, even missing playoffs contention in the LEC Summer Split. The organization ended their Worlds 2023 run with a score of 1 : 3 in the Swiss Stage, losing twice to North America, once to China, and winning only one match against EMEA's Team BDS.

This move could very well indicate a desire from MAD's management to go back to the drawing board and once more replace the majority of its roster as the team looks to rebuild a roster with the intention of re-entering contention among the top LEC teams.

EDIT: MAD Lions Director of Team Operations, Till Werdermann, has commented the situation on 𝕏.