Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote has claimed he still plans to launch an
Arsenal takeover bid – and hinted it could happen in 2021.
Dangote, 62, is Africa’s richest man and ranks at number 136 on the Forbes
rich list, thanks to his 85% ownership of the publicly-traded Dangote Cement
and stakes in publicly-traded salt, sugar and flour manufacturing companies.
The Arsenal fan has previously discussed his desire to one day buy the club
from Stan Kroenke – and he has now placed a timeline on his plans.
Speaking on the David Rubenstein Show in America, in an interview recorded in
September, Dangote said: “It is a team that yes I would like to buy some day.
“But what I keep saying is we have $20billion worth of projects and that’s what
I really want to concentrate on. I’m trying to finish building the company and
then after we finish, maybe some time in 2021 we can.
“I’m not buying Arsenal right now, I’m buying Arsenal when I finish all these
projects, because I’m trying to take the company to the next level.”
Dangote is in the process of building the Dangote Refinery which, according to
Forbes, will become one of the world’s largest oil refineries once complete
having been in construction for three years.
It seems he may be waiting for that project to be complete before launching a
takeover bid, having earmarked 2020 as the year he would make his move in
an interview back in 2018.
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