Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani would reportedly prefer to buy Arsenal instead of Manchester United or Liverpool.
Ambani’s name has frequently been mentioned in reports surrounding United and Liverpool, who have both been put up for sale by their owners. The Glazer family announced in November that they are seeking outside investment in United, following Fenway Sports Group, who want to sell Liverpool.
Ambani comes in 10th on Forbes’ rich list, with current estimated wealth of $90.7bn (£76.6bn). He is the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries and already owns hugely successful Indian Premier League cricket franchise Mumbai Indians.
The 65-year-old has an interest in football and reportedly wants to get involved in ownership. But The Athletic says Arsenal would be his preference, not the two Premier League sides who are for sale.
Ambani’s 31-year-old son Akash is a big fan of Mikel Arteta’s side and that has swayed the interest. The Gunners are currently owned by the Kroenke family, who have not publicly put the side up for sale.
Arsenal are currently riding high at the top of the Premier League following a wonderful start to the season. Arteta’s side are five points clear of defending champions Manchester City ahead of the return of fixtures after the conclusion of the World Cup.
Ambani is reportedly interested in owning a football club after more than doubling his wealth in the past two years, jumping from an estimated $36.8bn (£31bn) in 2020 to his current worth of £76.6bn. He has enjoyed an extremely successful relationship with Mumbai Indians, who have won the IPL a record five times since the league’s inception in 2008.
Ambani and his family live in a private 27-storey building in Mumbai which was one of the most expensive residences in the world when it was built. It requires 600 staff to function and includes three helipads, a 160-car garage, private cinema and swimming pool.
In August, Bloomberg reported that Ambani had bought a $80m (£67m) beach-side villa on the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai.
The Raine Group, an investment banking firm who oversaw the sale of Chelsea to a consortium fronted by Todd Boehly in May, is trying to find a buyer for United. Boehly’s consortium paid £2.5bn for Chelsea, but the Glazers are understood to be seeking between £6bn and £7bn for United – and hope to sell in the first quarter of 2023.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have a minimum value of £3.3bn, just 12 years after FSG paid £300m to buy the club. Liverpool chairman Tom Werner said they are not in a rush to offload the club.
He told The Boston Globe: "We’re exploring a sale, but there’s no urgency, no time frame for us, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s business as usual. One outcome could be our continued stewardship for quite a while."
