I'm Going to Sack Wenger as Soon as I Buy Arsenal - Africa's Richest Man, Aliko Dangote Opens Up

 

Nigerian billionaire, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who is valued at £10 billion by Forbes earlier this year, and has publicly expressed his desire to buy Arsenal Football Club, has already planned to sack Arsene Wenger if his long-promised takeover at the Emirates is successful.

 

While speaking in an interview with Bloomberg, the Africa’s richest man, who for several years, saw an initial bid to join Arsenal’s hierarchy collapse, once more affirmed his desire to invest in the north London side once he completes a major oil refinery project in the Nigerian capital of Lagos.

 

Dangote said; “The first thing I would change is the coach. He has done a good job, but someone else should also try his luck.”

 

It is not the first occasion in which Dangote has promised major upheaval at the Emirates, making similar comments about Wenger in May 2015.

 

The Arsenal manager would fear no such challenge from current majority shareholder, Stan Kroenke, with whom he agreed a two year contract extension at the end of last season.

 

Kroenke insisted in May that he was a “committed, long-term investor” in Arsenal after his company had rejected a £1 billion takeover bid from Alisher Usmanov, who owns a 30 per cent stake in the club.

 

The offer valued Arsenal at £2bn and Dangote is convinced he could tempt Kroenke and Usmanov into selling up.

 

Dangote said; “If they get the right offer, I’m sure they would walk away. Someone will give them an offer that will make them seriously consider walking away.  And when we finish the refinery, I think we will be in a position to do that.”

 

Dangote, an Arsenal fan since the mid-1980s, had been in talks with then-shareholder, Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith about a deal seven years ago but saw a deal fall apart.

 

The commodities tycoon is worth nearly £4bn more than Kroenke though his wealth has been eclipsed by Usmanov in recent years.