Nigerian billionaire, Aliko Dangote, has re-stated his desire to buy over Arsenal Football Club of England, adding that he would sack the manger, Arsene Wenger once he takes over the club.
Dangote who is Africa’s richest man is valued at £10billion by Forbes earlier this year.
The business mogul has always expressed his desire to take over at the Emirates for several years now.
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 a recent interview with Bloomberg, the businessman who is also the CEO of Dangote Group 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.”
It would be recalled that the 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.”
