Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the President and CEO of Dangote Group, has voiced regret over missing the opportunity to purchase Arsenal Football Club when it was valued at around $2 billion. In a recent interview with Bloomberg’s Francine Lacqua in New York, Dangote explained that his decision to focus on completing his massive refinery project ultimately led him to forgo the football club.
Dangote noted that at the time he considered the acquisition, Arsenal was not performing well, and his financial priorities were aligned with the refinery project. He remarked, “I think that time has passed. The last time we spoke, I told you as soon as I finish with the refinery, I am going to try and buy Arsenal. But you know everything has gone up, and the club, too, is doing very well.”
Currently, reports estimate Arsenal’s value to be around $4 billion, significantly higher than when Dangote first considered purchasing the club. He admitted, “I don’t have that kind of excess liquidity to go and buy a club for $4 billion and use it as a promotional something.”
Despite his missed opportunity, Dangote remains a devoted Arsenal supporter, stating, “I will remain a major supporter of Arsenal, but I don’t think it makes sense today to buy the club.” He reflected on his decision, acknowledging, “I regret not buying Arsenal earlier, but my money was more needed in completing my refinery project.”