Dangote to bid for Arsenal FC after completing oil refinery
Billionaire Aliko Dangote, Chairman of Dangote Group has said he will consider making a bid for English Premier League soccer club, Arsenal once the construction of an $11 billion oil refinery in Lagos, is completed.
Dangote, Africa’s richest man, who has coveted the team since becoming a supporter in the mid-1980s, also said in an interview that one of his first decisions will be to fire the manager, Arsene Wenger.
“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.”
Arsenal’s biggest shareholder is American billionaire Stan Kroenke, who controls almost 67 percent of the company. Earlier this year, Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, who already holds a 30 percent stake, sought to buy out Kroenke in an offer that valued Arsenal at as much as 2 billion pounds ($2.6 billion).
“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.”
“It’s a great team, well-run. It could be run better, so I will be there,” he said. “I will wait. Even if things change I will take it.”
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