PAO basketball chief shows interest in soccer club
Panathinaikos president Yiannis Alafouzos confirmed on Thursday that Panathinaikos basketball club president Dimitris Giannakopoulos has become the first to show a “substantial interest” in investing in the financially challenged team, that was left out of European competitions this season due to its debts.
Giannakopoulos met with Alafouzos earlier on Thursday and asked for details on the soccer club’s finances. He issued a statement expressing his interest in taking over at the soccer club – without giving up the basketball team either – following rumors he has a foreign partner that hails from the Far East.
Alafouzos confirmed at a press conference that there is an interest for “an investment by Dimitris Giannakopoulos along with a foreign investor, with an amount that is reasonable and feasible.”
He made it clear that there is no timetable, but added that in his 20-minute talk with Giannakopoulos the two men agreed for the January transfer window that “if there are the necessary conditions and either Mr Giannakopoulos or the foreign investor wishes to contribute in a possible signing, that would be possible and that was already discussed. However, at the moment we feel the team has no need for a specific signing.”
Asked who is the foreign partner of Giannakopoulos, Alafouzos answered that “I know more than what I am telling you. I am sure that since Mr Giannakopoulos has chosen him it will be a very serious proposal.”
