The richest man in Africa Aliko Dangote has admitted he regrets not buying Arsenal when he was willing to do so for £1.5 billion.
The Gunners faithful called for the club to be sold while Arsene Wenger was in charge, but things have changed significantly in recent years.
Josh Kroenke has made Arsenal a force to reckon with under manager Mikel Arteta since his father Stan Kroenke made him a co-chair of the club.
Dangote knows the North London club are no longer for sale and he is now wishing he had made the most of the chance to buy them a few years ago.
“I think that time has passed,” the Nigerian businessman told Bloomberg’s Francine Lacqua in New York.
“The last time when we had this interview, 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, Arsenal is doing extremely well right now. That time Arsenal wasn’t doing well.
“I think I don’t have that kind of excess liquidity to go and buy a club for $4 billion (£3bn) so to speak and use it as a promotional something.
“But what I will do is to continually be the biggest fan of Arsenal. I watch their games anytime they are playing. So, I will remain a major supporter of Arsenal but I don’t think it makes sense today to buy Arsenal.
“Actually, I regret not buying it before but you know my money was more needed in completing my project (Dangote refinery) than buying Arsenal. I would have bought the club for $2 billion (£1.5bn) but you know I wouldn’t have been able to finish my project. So, It was either I finish my project or go and buy Arsenal.”
The 67-year-old has an estimated net worth of $11.7 billion (£8.75bn) and is one of the top 200 richest people in the world at 191st on Forbes’ billionaires list.
He was keen on buying Arsenal back in 2016 but that is no longer possible as the value of the club has gone up.
Tottenham Hotspur are currently valued at £2.4bn, and it could take almost £4bn to buy the Gunners.
Arsenal are looking to go one better this season after finishing behind Manchester City in the Premier League title race in each of the last two campaigns.
They are unlikely to have new owners soon, with the Kroenkes looking to make the club the best on the planet.
