Businessman sees West Ham as real estate opportunity

The Israeli businessman linked to the consortium considering a possible takeover of West Ham is reported to be interested because of the “real estate opportunity”.

Eli Papoushado, a property magnate with hotel interests in several countries, has been named as a potential investor with Kia Joorabchian, the 35-year-old Anglo-Iranian entrepreneur who facilitated the club’s signing of Argentinians Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano last month.

However, the Israeli Ma’ariv newspaper quotes Papoushado as saying: “I don’t know how many players there are in each club, but in these deals there is always a real estate opportunity and that interests me.

“I have known Pini Zahavi (the so-called ‘super agent‘ who is involved in the deal) for more than 30 years and he suggested that I should become involved because of the potential of the club.”