Arsenal owner, Stan Kroenke, has revealed that he has no intentions of selling the North London club after intense backlashes following his involvement in the failed European Super League plans.
WuzupNigeria reports that Africa’s wealthiest man alive, Aliko Dangote, had consistently expressed interest in buying the Gunners and is reportedly expected to make a move when he finishes the construction of a refinery in the Lekki Free Zone near Lagos, Nigeria.
Now that Dangote’s dream of owning the club may have suffered a huge setback as Kroenke, in a Reuters report, stated that he and the club’s management will “carry on in our position as custodians” of the club and has “no intention of selling”.
The American businessman, alongside five other Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City and Liverpool, have been under fire for their involvement in the controversial breakaway competition.
Fans from various clubs have protested and slammed their owners for the move which was deemed as plans to end football.
Fans of Manchester United invaded the Carrington Training Complex on Thursday to protest against the club owners, the Glazer family, as they held placards with signs such as #GlazersOut, Chelsea and Liverpool fans also made their displeasure know with the Blues fans storming Stamford Bridge to stage a protest before their club backed out of the ESL.
Speaking on behalf of the club owners, director Josh Kroenke said, “We have no intention of selling, I believe we are fit to carry on in our position as custodians of Arsenal. We were put in a very difficult position by forces outside of the club.”
“We were put in a very difficult position by forces outside of the club,” he added.
“We have the same plans for summer that we had several weeks ago and I’m still excited about those.
“I might be met with mistrust and scepticism, but over time I hope to establish some sort of relationship with our supporter groups and show them we are capable of taking our club forward.”
“The first question we asked was: what is worse, a Super League or a Super League without Arsenal? We decided a Super League without Arsenal was the worst,” he added.
“From an English fan’s perspective … they want to see more big matches,” he added.
“But as one Chelsea supporter wrote on a sign that I saw online the other day, you still want your cold nights in Stoke.”
Meanwhile, Kroenke, chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and other figures at the London club involved in the ESL plan had apologised to the players and himself, according to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on Thursday.
