In a recent interview, Nigerian business magnate Aliko Dangote, the richest Black man in the world, shared his regret over not purchasing English Premier League club Arsenal.
Dangote, who had long expressed interest in acquiring the London-based football club, revealed that his plan was to buy Arsenal after completing his $20 billion petroleum refinery project.
However, the opportunity seems to have slipped away. Dangote explained that the club’s value has significantly increased, and with Arsenal now performing well in the Premier League, the cost of purchasing the team has risen to $4 billion, a figure he says he no longer has the liquidity to match. He noted that when he initially wanted to buy the club, Arsenal was struggling, which could have provided a more affordable option at the time. Despite his unfulfilled ambition, Dangote remains focused on his business ventures, including his groundbreaking refinery project.
In his words; “I think that time has passed, the last time when we had this interview I told you that yes as soon as I finished with the refinery, I’m going to try and buy Arsenal. but the issue is that you know, everything has gone up and the clubs, too, they are all doing very well, Arsenal is doing extremely very well, at that time Arsenal was not doing well, I think, you know, I don’t have that kind of excess liquidity to go and buy a club for $4billion, so to speak and you know use it as a promotional something You know I would rather do something with the money…”
Speaking further, Dangote noted that even though he would not be buying Arsenal, he remains one of the biggest fans of the football club, and will be watching the football club games every time they are playing.
He said; “What I will do, is I will continue to be the biggest fan of Arsenal, I will watch you know games every day, anytime that they are playing, I’ll watch, so I will remain a major supporter of Arsenal, but I don’t think if it makes sense today to buy Arsenal.”
The interviewer asked Dangote, “Do you regret not buying it before?, last time we spoke?”
Responding, Dangote uttered that he regretted not buying Arsenal at that time as he disclosed that his money was much more needed in completing his petroleum refinery then.
He says; “Actually I regret not buying before, but you know my money was more needed in completing my project than buying Arsenal.”
The interviewer further asked; “So you would have bought Arsenal for $2billlion?
Dangote responded; “I would have bought it for $2billion, yeah but you know I would not have been able to finish my project, you know, so it is either finish your project or go and buy Arsenal.”
Watch the video below;
See reactions below;
magamudi: Even people with excess money dey think before they spend. Nkechi wants me to press all my money for her hand. Nkechi, you are not the only girl with big nyash.
sneezemankind: … But decided to put my money into better use rather than wasting it on a trophy less club 😂😂😂.
kingsliveth: He made the right choice. It’s better to buy Nigeria like he did than to buy Arsenal.
yellowmouthdxb: See wetin human being de discuss I dey here dey ask my sister who finish rice wey I keep for fridge.
confirmguy: Daaamn 2 billion dollars then? I wonder how much the club is worth now… 🤔.
onye_nwa_: This man sounds like a normal struggling Nigerian lol he can buy Arsenal and still complete his project 😊and noting will happe.n