Maccabi Tel Aviv’s main sponsor Arik Shtilman delivered a shocking interview in the “Anahnu BaMapa” podcast, accusing the Recanati family of prioritizing personal interests over the club’s success.
The Rapyd founder revealed that he was close to becoming part of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s ownership group alongside the Federman family, but the Recanati family exercised its right of first refusal and purchased the shares instead.
According to Arik Shtilman, that decision prevented Maccabi Tel Aviv from making major investments and building a stronger EuroLeague roster. He also revealed which players could have arrived if he had remained involved, mentioning names such as Bruno Fernando, Richaun Holmes, Mike James, Shane Larkin and Iffe Lundberg.
The controversial transfer saga has finally come to an end! 🔥😬
— Basketball Sphere (@BSphere_) July 12, 2026
Yam Madar has officially completed one of the most talked-about EuroLeague moves of the offseason, leaving Hapoel Tel Aviv to join city rivals Maccabi Tel Aviv on a three-year deal.
Would you have made the same… pic.twitter.com/BZQfkqkfkL
Bruno Fernando, Richaun Holmes, Mike James and Shane Larkin were among possible targets
When asked which players could have arrived if he had remained involved with Maccabi Tel Aviv’s ownership, Shtilman revealed several high-profile names.
“Players like Bruno Fernando, Richaun Holmes, Tomas Satoransky. There were also discussions about other players who did not arrive for professional reasons, like Mike James and Shane Larkin. There were players we could have brought in; there were opportunities.”
“Of course, it would not have been simple, and there were also questions regarding professional fit, but there were moves that could have happened.”
Shtilman believes Maccabi Tel Aviv would have entered the summer with a much stronger roster if the ownership situation had been different.
“In a normal situation, if they had not exercised the right of refusal, by July 15 we probably would have had two top-level, serious centers, and most likely another strong guard as well.”
“We would have already signed Iffe Lundberg too, because this is just unnecessary dragging. He is expensive for them. After they pay Madar the money they are paying him, I am not sure there will be enough money left for Lundberg. They probably reduced the budget.”
Arik Shtilman explains how he was supposed to join Maccabi Tel Aviv ownership group
Arik Shtilman, the founder and CEO of Rapyd and Maccabi Tel Aviv’s main sponsor, explained that he had always wanted to become part of the club’s ownership structure.
The opportunity came when he reached an agreement to join forces with the Federman family, but the deal was ultimately blocked after the Recanati family used its right of first refusal to acquire the shares.
“For many years, I always wanted to be part of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s ownership group. Ever since my days as a sponsor, I have known most, if not all, of the shareholders. Over time, an opportunity emerged to join together with the Federman family, and the deal suited me, so I decided to go through with it. It was clear to me that a relatively complicated process would begin, where the other shareholders would have the right of first refusal on the shares.”
According to Shtilman, the Recanati family’s decision was not made with the goal of strengthening the basketball team.
“They decided to exercise their right of refusal and purchase the shares. The only reason they made that move was simply to make a few bucks – not to keep them and build a better team, but to make a flip and potentially sell them later at a higher price.”
“That is what is sad about this entire story – the best interest of the club is not their priority. The club does not matter to them. What matters to them is their ego, control over Maccabi Tel Aviv and Channel Sport together, which creates a clear conflict of interest.”
“They are interested in making a few bucks. None of the other Maccabi Tel Aviv shareholders would have done something like this. They prevented us from investing a significant amount of money into the team, stopped a great momentum, and chose their personal interests over the interests of the club.”
“I dragged them into the Yam Madar signing”
Arik Shtilman also discussed Maccabi Tel Aviv’s decision to sign Yam Madar, claiming that he was the person pushing the club toward the move.
“They are afraid of change. They do not want to communicate with the fans – for them, the fans are just an ATM that needs to finance them. They are not interested in making big moves, like the Yam Madar situation, which I dragged them into doing by force…”
“What bothered them was that I want to win at all costs, that I do not intend to be their puppet or their ATM, and that I intend to make decisions. The first shareholders’ meeting lasted 90 minutes – I spoke for 88 minutes, and for two minutes the others said they did not want to invest money.”
“The Recanati family is stuck in the 1970s and 1980s”
The Rapyd CEO continued his criticism of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s ownership, arguing that the club needs a modern basketball structure.
“We are talking about a group of people who have no idea what they are doing. They have never operated a business in their lives. Who is the Recanati family? These are people who are still stuck in the 1970s and 1980s. They made money back then by accident. They interfere in nonsense, they do not understand the consequences of 2026. You need a professional system with a GM and high-level scouting. This is completely embarrassing.”
He continued with another strong accusation:
“Maccabi Tel Aviv does not matter to the Recanati family, because if it did, they would not have immediately sold their shares to someone else. They are egomaniacs; they are not willing to let go. They have a saying: ‘I will take Maccabi to the grave. They will never sell the club, maybe only a small piece.”
“I will return to Maccabi Tel Aviv sooner than people think”
Arik Shtilman concluded the interview by suggesting that his involvement with Maccabi Tel Aviv could return in the future.
“I will return to Maccabi Tel Aviv much sooner than people think.”
He also believes the club has the potential to become a EuroLeague Final Four contender with the right investment.
“If they give Claudio Coldebella and Oded Kattash the budget they deserve, they can reach the Final Four. We were on our way to building a team that could finish in the top six, and because someone pressed the brakes, we reached a situation where there are no signings. My pressure brought about the signing of Yam Madar. The shareholders went into a frenzy, and that is how this whole situation happened.”
