Kroenke won’t deal in sentiment
– US businessman and entrepreneur Stan Kroenke is unlikely to be upset by the outpouring of heated opposition from Arsenal fans following his takeover of the Premier League club.
The hard-nosed multi-billionaire from Columbia, Missouri, who joined the American invasion of English football over a decade ago, has absorbed a steady volume of abuse since he first bought into the club in 2007.
The level of opposition rose significantly this week however as the 71-year-old bought out the club by purchasing the 30% holding of long-time rival minority shareholder Alisher for £550 million.
Adding to his 67% stake, the gambit took Kroenke well over the 90% mark that triggers a mandatory buyout of the remainder of the shares.
Usmanov bade farewell with a cryptic message saying Arsenal, without a league title since 2004, “could be the best club in the world”, but presumably not in the hands of Kroenke, who has been the target of his constant sniping
Eleven years earlier, Kroenke’s arrival at the north London club was greeted by a blunter message from then chairman Peter HillWood. Usmanov
Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas says the signing of Belgian keeper Thibaut Courtois has not affected his desire to remain at the triple European champions as he emphatically ruled out leaving the club in order to be assured of first team football.
“I’m telling everyone loud and clear, I have as much enthusiasm for leaving Madrid as I do for dying,” Navas told reporters after Real’s 2-1 victory over AS Roma in a friendly at the Metlife Stadium in New Jersey on Wednesday.
The Costa Rican international joined Real in 2014 and has helped them win a remarkable three consecutive Champions League crowns between 2016 and 2018 as well as lifting the La Liga title in 2017.
The keeper’s long-term future “Call me old-fashioned but we don’t need Kroenke’s money and we don’t want his sort,” said the Old Etonian after the entrepreneur brought 11.24% of the club.
“Our objective is to keep Arsenal English, albeit with a lot of foreign players.”
Supporters insist that Kroenke, JJ Henry of Liverpool, and Fulham’s Shahid Khan – who has bid £600 million for Wembley Stadium – are not fly-by-night opportunists seeking a quick profit.
They join a list of entrepreneurs hungry to invest in the world’s highest-profile football league. – AFP has often been in doubt, however. He was on the verge of joining Manchester United in 2015 when Real’s pursuit of David de Gea fell through on transfer deadline day, while the club also failed to sign Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga last January from Athletic Bilbao.
Navas’ status as Real’s No 1 is now seriously threatened by the arrival of Courtois, who was awarded the Golden Glove for being the best goalkeeper at the 2018 World Cup and joined from Chelsea on Wednesday for a reported €35 million.
Meanwhile, as an instant replacement, Chelsea have signed Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga for a world-record £71 million fee from Athletic Bilbao.
Arrizabalaga becomes the most expensive goalkeeper in football history, ahead of Liverpool’s Alisson, who moved from AS Roma for £67m earlier in the transfer window.
“The Spanish international goalkeeper arrives ahead of the new Premier League season having signed a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge,” Chelsea said in a statement.
Athletic confirmed earlier on Wednesday that Arrizabalaga’s representatives had deposited his buy-out clause at the Spanish federation’s offices.
“He has already demonstrated fantastic quality and consistency and will be a big part of any success Chelsea have in the coming years,” Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said.
“His long-term contract reflects the belief we have in him and we look ahead to the coming seasons with an enormous sense of optimism.”
Arrizabalaga has played 53 La Liga matches for Athletic Bilbao since breaking into the team in 2016. –