Aliko
Dangote,
a
Nigerian
billionaire,
has
apologized
for
passing
up
the
chance
to
buy
Arsenal
Football
Club
at
a
time
when
it
was
far
less
valuable.
In
an
interview
with
Bloomberg’s
Francine
Lacqua,
Dangote
disclosed
that
he
decided
not
to
purchase
the
London
club
at
the
time
it
was
valued
at
approximately
$2
billion
because
he
was
focused
on
finishing
his
refinery
project.
“I
think
that
time
has
passed…
everything
has
gone
up,
and
the
club
too
is
doing
very
well,”
he
stated.
Reflecting
on
the
missed
opportunity,
he
added,
“Actually,
I
regret
not
buying
it
before…
but
my
money
was
more
needed
in
completing
my
project.”
Although
Dangote
expressed
affection
for
Arsenal,
he
emphasized
that
it
would
no
longer
be
financially
prudent
to
buy
the
club
at
this
time,
with
a
valuation
of
approximately
$4
billion.
He
is
still
a
devoted
fan
of
the
team,
though.
“I
will
remain
a
major
supporter
of
Arsenal
but
I
don’t
think
it
makes
sense
today
to
buy
Arsenal,”
he
concluded.