Dangote restates desire to buy Arsenal

…Says Gunners need change of direction

BY LUKMAN OLOGUNRO |

Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote has once again expressed interest of buying English Premier League club, Arsenal.
Dangote, who is Africa’s richest man, said the London club need need new ownership if they are to progress and rival clubs like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea in football.

The 58-year-old according to Forbes is worth a reported $15.7 billion which puts him 67th on the list of the world’s richest people.

The businessman has held an interest in Arsenal for a long time and wants to help the club back into the race for the Premier League title by taking over as owner.

“They are doing well, but they need another strategic direction,” Dangote said. “They need more direction than the current situation, where they just develop players and sell them.”

Under Frenchman Arsene Wenger, the Gunners have a history of selling star players like Robin van Persie (£25 million to Man Utd in 2012) and Cesc Fabregas (to Barcelona in 2011 for £35 million), while they also moved on Emmanuel Adebayor, Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri to title rivals Man City for over £50 million in recent years.

American businessman Stan Kroenke currently holds a 67 percent stake in Arsenal, while Red and White Holdings, backed by Russian magnate Alisher Usmanov, has 30 percent.

Dangote was linked with an approach to buy a stake in the club in 2010, before he pulled out, but now believes that the building of an oil refinery in his homeland will give him the funds to return with a new offer.

“There were a couple of us who were rushing to buy, and we thought with the prices then, the people who were interested in selling were trying to go for a kill,” he added. “When we get this refinery on track, I will have enough time and enough resources to pay what they are asking for.”