Africa's Richest Man Wants to Buy Arsenal, Sack Arsene Wenger

Let’s say that you’re a disgruntled Arsenal FC supporter who’s also a member of the #WengerOut crowd. You want Manager Arsene Wenger sacked, a lot, but surely not enough as Aliko Dangote, the richest man in all of Africa. Forbes estimates that Dangote has a net worth of nearly $13 billion, not far from double that of current Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke, who checks in at $7.5 billion.

Dangote has been a club supporter who has coveted a purchase of the team since the 1980s, despite Kroenke’s stance that the club is not for sale.

Dangote told Bloomberg that he is persistent about his desire to buy the club, once he finishes one of his current projects, the construction of an oil refinery in his native Nigeria. He also told the business publication that the first order of business, should he actually get control of the team, is to sack Arsene Wenger.

Excerpting Bloomberg:

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

Wenger is Europe’s longest-serving manager. Since his appointment to the London-based club in 1996, he’s won three Premier League titles and seven FA Cup trophies. In May, he agreed to a new two-year deal, ending months of speculation over his future prompted by his team’s indifferent form last season. Arsenal failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, Europe’s premier tournament, for the first time in 20 years.

Kroenke, as well as the Arsenal FC board, remain extremely loyal to Arsene Wenger, and it’s this persistence that makes so many Gunners supporters so malcontent right now. Missing out on UEFA Champions league for the first time in two decades wasn’t the straw to break the Wenger regime, so it doesn’t appear that the Frenchman will be replaced until either a.) he himself chooses to step down or b.) new ownership comes in and terminates his contract.

Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV.

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