SAN FRANCISCO, August 17, (THEWILL) – Nigerian billionaire and Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has re-stated his desire to own Arsenal Football Club of England.
Dangote, valued at £10billion by Forbes earlier this year, added that he would fire Arsenal’s Manager, Arsene Wenger if his takeover bid is successful.
Dangote has always expressed his desire to take over at the Emirates for several years.
An Arsenal fan since the mid-1980s, he had been in talks with then-shareholder Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith about a deal seven years ago but saw a deal fall apart.
In an interview with Bloomberg, the billionaire once more affirmed his desire to invest in the north London side once he completes a major oil refinery project in the Nigerian capital of Lagos.
“The first thing I would change is the coach,” Dangote said.
“He has done a good job, but someone else should also try his luck.”
THEWILL recalls that current majority shareholder Stan Kroenke, in May, rejected a £1billion takeover bid from Alisher Usmanov, who owns a 30 per cent stake in the club, insisting that he was a committed, long-term investor in the club.
Dangote, however, believes that he could tempt Kroenke and Usmanov into selling up the club which is valued at £2bn.
“If they get the right offer, I’m sure they would walk away,” he said.
“Someone will give them an offer that will make them seriously consider walking away.
“And when we finish the refinery, I think we will be in a position to do that.”
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