Ace comedian Ali Baba has told Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote not to buy Arsenal FC of England now.
Ali Baba said this in an interview with Punch on Thursday.
When asked what he thought of Dangote and Senator Orji Kalu’s move to buy Arsenal, the comedian said if he buys now he won’t make his money back.
“Yes, Dangote can afford to buy Arsenal or any other club after his refinery project. I think it is a commercial move, not to develop our (local) sport.
“I like the idea of Aliko buying the gunners. But if he buys these kindergarten players, he won’t make his money. I hope that he buys Arsenal, but the influence of an owner is limited. The coach makes the major decisions that help the club to grow,” he said.
He said Dangote could buy Arsenal when the club have ‘men’ and are in better shape.
Dangote and Mr Kalu had indicated an interest in buying stakes in the London club.
In January Dangote told the David Rubenstein Show that “It is a team that, yes, I would like to buy someday, but what I keep saying is we have $20 billion (£15 billion) worth of projects and that’s what I really want to concentrate on.”
“I’m trying to finish building the company and then, after we finish, maybe sometime in 2021 we can. I’m not buying Arsenal right now, I’m buying Arsenal when I finish all these projects because I’m trying to take the company to the next level,” he added.
