Dangote still interested in buying Arsenal

Lagos - Africa's richest businessman, Aliko Dangote, has confirmed he intends to lodge a bid to become majority shareholder of English Premier League giants Arsenal. The Nigerian billionaire is close to completing an oil refinery in his homeland, which would in turn finance his plans to purchase the north London club. Dangote, who is ranked 67th on the Forbes rich list with an estimated wealth of £11.5bn, told BBC Hausa: "When we get this refinery on track, I will have enough time and enough resources to pay what they (Arsenal) are asking for." Also read : Dangote to own Arsenal? The entrepreneur had previously been interested in purchasing the 15.9 percent stake sold to Stan Kroenke for £123 m in April 2011 but had to pull out due to various reasons. Dangote continued: "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." “My love for arsenal date back to about 10years ago when i use to go and watch them play with the one of the largest shareholder, Mr David Dein and i think i develop likeness for the team and have been a supporter of the team since 80s. So it is not an overnight stuff and it is true we made an effort to buy. There couple of us who are rushing to buy and we thought about the prices then few are interested in selling are actually trying to get and we back track because we are very very busy doing other thing especially our industralization but right now things are happening now especially if we get the refinery on track , i will have enough time and put resources to pay what they are asking for.” What motivated you to show interest , is it the fans or profit ? Dangote: Normally for fans, you dont go and buy . You know obviously we are not going to lose the money. I think Arsenal are doing well but they need another strategic direction, they need more direction than the current issue where they develop players and selling them. Their are insinuations that the club won’t be sold to an African ? Dangote: what i always say is that money does’t matter whether you are an African or not. Anywhere in the world, the colour of money is the same thing. Once i put money on the table, they won’t be bother if you are an African but it might be a policy they don’t want an African to own it which i don’t believe so.