Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote has admitted that he is still interested in purchasing Arsenal. The 58-year-old, who has an estimated wealth of £11.5bn, says he has supported the Gunners since the 1980s, he believes the club needs a change of direction.

Dangote has been interested in purchasing the club for sometime, and has already previously jumped at the asking price.

“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,” Dangote said.

“We backtracked, because we were very busy doing other things, especially our industrialisation.”
However he has vowed to come back and offer a figure that will ensure the club is his.

The Nigerian had this to say on Arsenal:

“They are doing well, but they need another strategic direction.”

“They need more direction than the current situation, where they just develop players and sell them.”

He went on to comment about earlier discussions held about purchasing stake in the club, but says the asking prices were way too high. As it stands, Stan Kroenke is Arsenal’s majority shareholder, owning 66.64% of the club’s parent company Arsenal Holdings plc. Russian-Uzbek Alisher Usmanov owns 29.11% with the remainder of the 62,217 shares held by minority shareholders including former players and the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust, who own three.

The 58-year-old has said that his plans for an oil refinery will supply him with the funds needed to make an improved offer.

“When we get this refinery on track, I will have enough time and enough resources to pay what they are asking for.”

Arsenal fans are split on whether Dangote should buy the club. However, no matter what the pros and cons are, the man seems to be a genuine fan of the club and would surely only want the best.