Aliko Dangote, President and CEO of Dangote Group, expressed regret over not purchasing Arsenal Football Club when its value was lower.
In a Bloomberg interview with Francine Lacqua, Dangote revealed he had considered buying Arsenal when it was valued at $2 billion. However, he prioritized completing his refinery project over the acquisition.
“Now, Arsenal’s value has increased significantly, making it unfeasible for me to buy,” Dangote said. “I don’t have the excess liquidity to spend $4 billion on a promotional venture.”
Although he has abandoned his ambition to own Arsenal, Dangote remains a devoted fan, watching their games whenever possible.
“I regret not buying Arsenal earlier, but my resources were needed elsewhere,” he acknowledged. “It was either complete my project or purchase the club. I chose to prioritize my refinery.”
Dangote initially announced his intention to buy Arsenal in 2020, following the completion of his refinery project.
As founder of the Dangote Group, West Africa’s largest conglomerate, his business priorities took precedence.
