By Mark Baber
May 2 –Alisher Usmanov claims Arsenal’s majority shareholder Stan Kroenke “doesn’t show any wish” to create a winning team according to reports in the British press.
Speaking from his native Russia, Usmanov said Kroenke “would probably be happy” finishing fourth in the Premier League this season and that Arsenal has “no superstars now”.
Usmanov, has an estimated fortune of £13.3 billion and through through Red and White Holdings Ltd, which is jointly owned by him and his partner Farhad Moshiri, owns Red and White Securities Ltd, which in turn owns 29.99% of Arsenal. Stan Kroenke owns 66.83% of Arsenal through his solely owned company KSE UK Inc.
Usmanov, would like to take control of Arsenal but he told the press: “In our understanding, Kroenke has no plans to sell his stake, but we also won’t sell out, as we are the team’s fans.”
Usmanov’s latest criticisms of the Arsenal board are similar to those he made in January and last year, and he promises that if he were to gain control he would pump money into the club to buy new players in order to guarantee silverware.
Arsenal are currently in a fight with Chelsea and Tottenham for a Champions League place, after having qualified for the competition every year since 1998.
Arsenal declined to comment on Usmanov’s latest criticisms, referring chief executive Ivan Gazidis’ statement from October statement that Kroenke and other board members had a “shared ambition” to win silverware.
Wenger, who is reportedly a PSG target, has £70 million at his disposal for player acquisitions this summer, but under his management the club has been run in a financially sustainable fashion, regularly selling players at a profit after developing them into world-class stars.
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