Aliko Dangote seeks to buy Arsenal
Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote says he is still interested in adding Arsenal Football club to his ever expanding vast business empire.
The Nigerian business mogul, whose fortune is estimated at Sh 200 billion, also plans to put up a Sh 35 billion worth of cement factory in Kenya, to add to similar investments in Tanzania and Ethiopia.
The planned investment in Kenya was arrived at last year when Dangote visited Nairobi alongside then Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, and held talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was accompanied by a number of high level Government and business people.
But it is the businessman’s reported interest in having a stake in English football that has left tongues wagging.
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Arsenal is currently valued at about Sh 148 billion. American business man Stan Kroenke nicknamed “Silent Stan” is the club’s current majority shareholder, but he has variously indicated he sees the sporting outfit as his long term investment.
This hasn’t however stopped the 58 year old Kano born Dangote from expressing interest in acquiring the club.
“I might buy it (Arsenal) not at a ridiculous price, but a price that the owners wont resist. I know my strategy. I still hope one day at the right price I will buy the team,” Dangote was quoted by bloomberg.
Dangote becomes the second African to publicly declare interest in purchasing an English side.
The other African, Ugandan Mike Ezra’s bid to acquire Leeds United ten years ago wasn’t successful.