Africa’s richest man and generous philanthropist, Aliko Dangote, who is an ardent supporter of the Gunners, has unveiled his intention to acquire Arsenal Football Club.
The 62-year-old Nigerian billionaire, with a net worth of over £8.5 billion, has long been strategizing to take over from the current owner, Stan Kroenke.
He had previously pledged a bid for takeover in 2020, but due to the ongoing construction of his Dangote Refinery, he has postponed the date to 2021.
‘It is a team that, yes, I would like to buy someday, but what I keep saying is we have $20 billion worth of projects and that’s what I really want to concentrate on,’ Dangote stated on the David Rubenstein Show.
‘I’m trying to finish building the company and then after we finish, maybe sometime in 2021 we can.
‘I’m not buying Arsenal right now, I’m buying Arsenal when I finish all these projects because I’m trying to take the company to the next level.’
Arsenal is currently positioned 10th in the Premier League, showing promising signs under the management of Mikel Arteta, who took over from former manager Unai Emery after his dismissal in November 2019.