By Adedapo Adesanya
Business mogul and Africa’s richest man, Mr Aliko Dangote, has decided to push back his interest in procuring English top flight team, Arsenal Football Club, for now. However, he hinted of a possible takeover by 2021.
Mr Dangote, who has a chain of businesses across the consumer sector, is seeking to expand his footprints into the sports industry with the acquirement of Arsenal FC, the club which he supports.
While making an appearance on the David Rubenstein Show recently, he reiterated his interest in buying the club, but stressed that this would take a backseat this year as he had other projects on his hands.
“It is a team (Arsenal) that yes I would like to buy some day, but what I keep saying today is we have $20 billion worth of projects and that’s what I really want to concentrate on.
“I’m trying to finish building the company (Dangote Refinery in Lagos) and then after we finish, maybe some time in 2021 we can,” he said.
“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,” Mr Dangote declared.
Over the years, the 62-year-old has always spoken about his interest in buying the North London club. In an interview with Reuters in 2018, Mr Dangote said “We will go after Arsenal from 2020… even if somebody buys, we will still go after in.”
Arsenal, which is currently under the Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE), owned by American billionaire, Mr Stanley Kroenke, had through the club’s director, Josh Kroenke last year confirmed that the club’s management was still under the family.
The 62-year old is worth over $10 billion according to Forbes, and is richer than Arsenal’s current who has an estimated wealth of $9.7billion, while the club is current estimated at a brand value of $993 million according to Statista.
Modupe Gbadeyanka 
Dipo Olowookere