Amid talk that Stan Kroenke was set to launch a £525m bid to buy Alisher Usmanov’s 30% stake in Arsenal, the Russian oligarch has confirmed in a statement that he’s not looking to sell his stake in the club.
Usmanov, who increased his ownership of Arsenal from 15% to 30% when he bought business partner Farhad Moshiri’s share of the north London club last year, claims he has no intention to sell and remains interested in buying out Kroenke. The statement read:
In recent days there has been speculation relating to a possible offer for my 30% stake in Arsenal. As part of that I can understand the anxiety that these rumours are causing to the fans as reflected by the Arsenal Supporters Trust.
In light of this, I would like to be clear that I am not holding any talks with Mr Kroenke about a sale. My interest in Arsenal from the beginning was long term and my intention has always been to buy additional shares should they become available. This I did with the purchase of the stake of my business partner Farhad Moshiri with which I increased my shareholding from 15% to 30%, and also with my proposed offer for the stake of the majority shareholder which valued the Club at some £2bn.
That offer remains valid today. I have always been and will continue to be an ardent supporter of Arsenal and I see my 30% stake as an important aspect in protecting the best interests of the fans in the Club. It has been well documented that I have no say in the running of the club, that my views differ from those of the majority shareholder and that I would take a different approach to delivering footballing success.
I would like to assure supporters that I am open to various future scenarios – a constructive partnership with the majority shareholder, the purchase of his stake either alone or in a consortium, or if a party appears who shares my and undoubtedly the majority of fans’ vision for the club, I could consider the question of selling my stake.
Many Arsenal fans have protested against Kroenke and the way he’s run the club in recent years, with a lot of the frustrations directed towards the decision to retain Arsene Wenger as manager following a disappointing Premier League campaign last season which saw the Gunners miss out on a Champions League spot for the first time in the Frenchman’s tenure.
