Aliko Dangote is now featured on the calendar of every Arsenal fan, rather like Easter and Christmas because every year, sometimes twice a year, the richest businessman in Africa reminds us of his intentions to buy the club and remove it from the clutches of Stan Kroenke.
It’s been that way since 2015 and every time, he finds an excuse to exclude himself from chasing his pipe dream. There are his existing commitments, his expanding empire, and the need to complete or finalise a host of projects. If Stan Kroenke picked up the phone and called him directly to offer him the club at a discounted price, I’m not sure that he’d even take the call.
Dangote, it seems, has a great many fingers in numerous pies but at the forefront of his business dealings is the need for self-promotion. Outside of Africa, where he is an extremely powerful and influential figure, he is an unknown, a fringe figure on the world stage but it’s no secret that he’d like that to change.
Aliko Dangote would like to be a Bill Gates or Richard Branson character, pictured with the world’s elite whilst watching Arsenal destroy the opposition. He could then hold court with guests to talk about his plans which are all entirely centred around…himself.
I’m painting a very gloomy picture of a successful man that is as sincere as a high-profile politician and as deep as the average puddle, but after six years of this tomfoolery with the press, it’s time to wise up. If Dangote is to place a bid, then this year would be ideal with the global economy contracting due to Covid-19 and with the hope that invisible Stan has had enough of his rollercoaster ride in the Premier League.
Dangote has the money to wipe Stan out with a net worth of $11.5 billion (Forbes) compared to the American’s net worth of $8.3 billion (Forbes), but it’s about the desire to turn words into reality and Kroenke has that in his locker having chased off the competition last time by dispatching Alisher Usmanov with a hard cash payoff.
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He has always maintained his intentions to be there for the “long haul” and when you get these types of big hitters coming together to do battle over baubles, there’s a deep-rooted stubbornness to the end result. Is Kroenke the type to roll over and sell up?
Possibly, for an astronomical sum but in doing so, he would have relinquished the jewel in his sports empire, one that took him years to assume control of, so in my opinion, it’s unlikely. As unlikely as Dangote making a firm offer or even making a tentative approach. If Arsenal fans are looking for someone to ride into town and end the Kroenke nightmare, I doubt Aliko Dangote is the one they seek.
