Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest billionaire, admits he regrets not buying Arsenal for £1.5 billion.
The Gunners faithful demanded that the club be sold while Arsene Wenger was in control, but things have changed dramatically in recent years.
Josh Kroenke has transformed Arsenal into a force to be reckoned with under manager Mikel Arteta, after his father Stan Kroenke appointed him co-chairman of the club.
Dangote is aware that the North London club is no longer for sale, and he regrets not taking advantage of the opportunity 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 is reported to be worth $11.7 billion (£8.75 billion) and ranks 191st on Forbes’ list of the world’s billionaires.
In 2016, he wanted to buy Arsenal, but the club’s worth has since increased, making that impossible.
Tottenham Hotspur are currently worth £2.4 billion, and it may cost nearly £4 billion to buy the Gunners.
Arsenal are hoping to go one better this season after finishing behind Manchester City in the Premier League title competition the previous two seasons.
They are unlikely to have new owners soon, as the Kroenkes want to make the club the best on the planet.