Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote says he is still keen on buying English Premier League side Arsenal.
The 58-year-old, who is Africa’s richest man having amassed a fortune in the region of $18.4 billion (£12.2 billion), is currently the 67th richest man in the world.
Dangote, who has made his fortune through various operations including cement manufacturing, sugar supply and oil investments, says that he will concentrate on getting the refinery on track before giving all it takes to get Arsenal.
“When we get this refinery on track, I will have enough time and enough resources to pay what they are asking for,” he told the BBC Hausa service.
“There were a couple of us who were rushing to buy, and we thought with the prices then, the people who were interested in selling were trying to go for a kill.
“We backtracked, because we were very busy doing other things, especially our industrialisation.”
The Kano-born billionaire and Arsenal fan gave a not too polite verdict on the Gunners and why he wants to take it over.
“They are doing well, but they need another strategic direction,” he added. “They need more direction than the current situation, where they just develop players and sell them,” he concluded.
Stan Kroenke is Arsenal’s majority shareholder, with the American owning 66.64 per cent of the club’s parent company, Arsenal Holdings Plc.
Dangote has criticised Arsene Wenger, claiming that the 65-year-old “needs to change his style a bit” and warning that the club “need new direction” in order to become more successful
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