Aliko Dangote, Chairman of the Dangote Group, has expressed regret over his missed opportunity to purchase Arsenal Football Club for $2 billion. In a recent interview with Bloomberg’s Francine Lacqua in New York, Dangote acknowledged that the window to buy the Premier League club has likely closed.
Reflecting on his past interest, Dangote stated, “I believe the time has passed.” He reminded Lacqua of a previous interview where he had mentioned plans to pursue the acquisition of Arsenal after completing his refinery project. At that time, Arsenal was struggling on the field, which made it a more feasible purchase.
However, Dangote pointed out that the situation has changed, noting that “everything has gone up.” He remarked that clubs, including Arsenal, are now performing extremely well, and the value of these teams has risen significantly. With Arsenal’s current success, the club’s value has soared to around $4 billion, making it a much larger financial commitment than before.
Dangote explained that he no longer has the “excess liquidity” required to spend such a vast sum on purchasing the club, especially for promotional purposes. He emphasized that his financial resources were better spent on completing his other business ventures, particularly his refinery project, rather than acquiring Arsenal.
While expressing regret over not buying the club when it was valued at $2 billion, Dangote reaffirmed his commitment as a passionate fan of Arsenal. He continues to watch their games regularly and remains a loyal supporter.
Nonetheless, he concluded that, given the current circumstances, buying the club no longer makes financial sense.
