“I Regret Not Buying Arsenal Football Club”- Aliko Dangote (Video)

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has revealed that the window of opportunity to purchase Arsenal Football Club has likely passed, a dream he once publicly expressed.

Speaking during an interview with Bloomberg’s Francine Lacqua in New York, Dangote reflected on the shift in economic realities that have made his once-ambitious goal less feasible.

Recalling his earlier intention, Dangote noted that he had planned to pursue ownership of Arsenal after completing his massive refinery project in Nigeria. “The last time we had this interview, I said as soon as we finish the refinery, I am going to try and buy Arsenal. But the issue is that everything has gone up. And the clubs too are doing extremely well. At that time, Arsenal wasn’t doing very well,” he explained.

Dangote admitted that he could have bought the club for $2 billion when the opportunity presented itself, but completing his refinery project took precedence. “I would have bought it for $2 billion, but I wouldn’t have been able to finish my project. So, it was either you finish your project or buy Arsenal,” he said.

Today, Arsenal’s valuation has skyrocketed, reportedly exceeding $4 billion, making it far more difficult for the Nigerian billionaire to consider purchasing the Premier League club. He acknowledged that, given the financial commitment required, it no longer makes sense for him to pursue the acquisition. “With the value of the club now at around $4 billion, I don’t have the excess liquidity to make such an investment,” Dangote stated, adding that he prefers to focus on ventures that have a greater impact.

Despite missing out on ownership, Dangote remains a dedicated supporter of the Gunners. “I will continue to be the biggest fan of Arsenal. I watch their games every day. I will remain a major supporter of the club, but I don’t think it makes sense today to buy Arsenal.”

Watch the video below;

Reflecting on the decision to prioritize his refinery project over the Arsenal acquisition, Dangote emphasized that it was the right choice. The refinery, a globally significant project, has a refining capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, representing about 1.1% of the world’s total refining capacity.

While his dream of owning Arsenal may have faded, Dangote’s legacy in global business remains firmly anchored with the completion of his landmark refinery, a development that he believes will have far-reaching economic benefits.

In conclusion, Dangote expressed no regrets over his decision to focus on his refinery, describing it as an essential contribution to Nigeria’s economy and a project that will have a lasting impact.
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