“‘I’m Arsenal’s Biggest Fan’ – Aliko Dangote Shares Regrets About Not Buying the Club”

Babatunji Wusu –

– Dangote regrets not buying Arsenal when it was valued at $2 billion.
– He chose to invest in his refinery project instead.
– He remains a dedicated fan of Arsenal and watches their games regularly.
– Currently, he feels purchasing the club at its higher valuation does not make financial sense.

Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President and Chief Executive of Dangote Group, has expressed regret over missing the opportunity to purchase Arsenal Football Club when it was valued at around $2 billion. In an interview with Bloomberg’s Francine Lacqua, the billionaire discussed his longstanding aspiration to own a football club and lamented his delayed action regarding Arsenal.

Dangote attributed his decision to focus on a significant refinery project as the reason he missed the chance to invest in the English club, a choice he now reflects on with disappointment. He stated, “I think that time has passed. The last time we spoke, I mentioned that once I finish the refinery, I would try to buy Arsenal. However, the club’s value has increased significantly, and Arsenal is performing extremely well now.”

He further acknowledged the current financial implications of such a purchase, saying, “I don’t have that kind of excess liquidity to buy a club for $4 billion and use it for promotional purposes.” Despite this, he affirmed his commitment to being a dedicated fan of Arsenal, stating he watches their games whenever possible.

When asked about his regrets, he noted, “I do regret not buying it earlier, but my funds were more needed for completing my project. I could have acquired the club for $2 billion, but I wouldn’t have been able to finish my refinery. It was a choice between completing my project or purchasing Arsenal.”