EPL
Aliko Dangote Explains Why He Put His Plans to Buy Arsenal on Hold
Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has officially ended his long-standing ambition to purchase Premier League club Arsenal, citing changing financial priorities and the club’s increased valuation.
In a recent interview with Bloomberg, the CEO of the Dangote Group expressed his regret at missing the opportunity to buy the club when its valuation was around $2 billion.
Reflecting on the missed chance, Dangote stated, “I think that time has passed.”
The Nigerian billionaire, with a net worth of over $13 billion, acknowledged that Arsenal’s current valuation of $2.6 billion, combined with the success of his refinery project in Nigeria, shifted his focus from football to business.
Back in 2020, Dangote had expressed his intention to buy Arsenal after completing his multi-billion-dollar refinery project. However, with the club’s rising value and its recent improved performance, Dangote has decided to stay on as a passionate supporter rather than pursue ownership.
“Arsenal is doing extremely well right now… I don’t have the excess liquidity to spend $4 billion on buying a club,” he remarked.
Despite his enduring love for the club, Dangote emphasized that completing the Dangote Refinery project, which is now operational, took precedence over acquiring Arsenal. He admitted,
“I could have bought the club for $2 billion, but I wouldn’t have been able to finish my project.”
Arsenal, owned by American billionaire Stan Kroenke, has experienced significant financial growth, finishing second in the Premier League for two consecutive seasons and raising their annual revenue to $560 million.
While Dangote’s plans to own Arsenal are no longer in motion, his loyalty to the club remains strong.
“I will continue to be a major supporter of Arsenal… but buying the club today just doesn’t make sense,” he concluded.
BUNDESLIGA
Alphonso Davies’ Agent Sets Up Talks With Real Madrid And Man Utd After Bayern Fallout
Real Madrid’s pursuit of Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies has been reinvigorated after a series of developments that suggest the Canadian defender’s future remains undecided. While Bayern had recently shown confidence in retaining Davies, Real Madrid has been given fresh hope of securing his signature.
Davies is unlikely to commit to any decision before January, allowing Real Madrid time to prepare an official contract offer.
According to Christian Falk via The Daily Briefing, Davies’ agent, Nedal Huoseh, was supposed to meet with Bayern officials in Munich.
However, the meeting was shifted to a virtual call, and Bayern’s Director of Football, Max Eberl, did not attend, reportedly frustrating Huoseh. This isn’t the first instance of strained relations between Bayern and Davies’ representative.
The next set of negotiations is now expected to happen in January. Although Bayern remains hopeful that Davies will sign a contract extension, Huoseh has scheduled meetings with both Manchester United and Real Madrid to review their offers.
Real Madrid’s current proposal is similar to Bayern’s, which could give Manchester United an edge if they table a significantly better offer. Despite Bayern’s push for a swift resolution, it appears the situation will extend into the new year.
EPL
OFFICIAL: Mohamed Salah Is The EPL Player Of The Month For November
Mo Salah has been named the Premier League Player of the Month for November, solidifying his status as one of the league’s top performers.
The Liverpool star outshone rivals Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, Ryan Gravenberch, Martin Ødegaard, João Pedro, Bukayo Saka, and Yoane Wissa to clinch the award.
In November, Salah played a crucial role in Liverpool’s success, contributing to five of the team’s seven goals through either scoring or assisting.
His contributions helped the Reds secure victories in all three matches, keeping them at the top of the Premier League table.
This marks the sixth time in his career that Salah has claimed the Player of the Month honor.
He now stands alongside football icons Steven Gerrard and Cristiano Ronaldo in the all-time rankings. Salah is just one award away from matching the joint record of seven, currently held by Harry Kane and Sergio Agüero.
EPL
William Saliba Delivers Huge Arsenal Boost With Clear Message On His Future
William Saliba has significantly boosted Arsenal by committing his future to the club. The French defender has been pivotal to Mikel Arteta’s squad since cementing his place in the starting lineup during the 2022-23 season.
At just 23 years old, Saliba has already surpassed 100 appearances for the Gunners and has featured in 13 Premier League matches this season as Arsenal chase the title.
His standout performances have reportedly attracted interest from Real Madrid, with the Spanish giants identifying him as a key transfer target.
Despite the speculation, Saliba, who is under contract until 2027, made it clear that he feels “at home” at Arsenal and has no intention of leaving.
When asked about his future, he told The Mirror: “Yeah, of course, I feel at home. I signed for the club five years ago, but this is only my third season, and I’m enjoying everything — the players, the staff, and the fans. I feel at home, so of course, why not?”
Saliba’s consistent form has earned him a spot in the PFA Team of the Year for the past two seasons.
His defensive contributions have been crucial to Arsenal’s success, helping the team maintain the second-best defensive record in the league with just 14 goals conceded in 14 games. Only league leaders Liverpool have a better record, with 11 goals conceded.
Even though Arsenal trail Liverpool by seven points, Saliba remains confident that the gap can be closed. “Everything is possible,” he said. “The season is very long, and we’ve experienced that in the past two years. We just have to focus on ourselves. It’s still only December, so a lot of things can happen.”
Saliba was instrumental in Arsenal’s recent 2-0 win over Manchester United, scoring a crucial second goal that helped narrow the gap to Liverpool.
The Gunners now aim to build on that momentum when they face Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday, seeking to avenge last season’s defeat at the same venue.
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