Mathieu Flamini became a fan favourite at Arsenal during his two spells at the club and the midfielder has not ruled out the possibility of buying the Gunners one day.
Former Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini, now a billionaire, has previously hinted at the possibility of owning the Gunners in the future. Flamini is well-regarded by Arsenal supporters for his tenure at the club where he made 153 appearances in his initial spell, clinching the FA Cup and narrowly missing out on the Champions League in 2006.
He rejoined the club for a second stint in 2013, adding another 93 appearances after a five-year period at AC Milan. In 2010, while still an active footballer, Flamini demonstrated his business prowess by co-founding GFBiochemicals.
Fast forward 14 years, he now owns a 60% share in the company and serves as its CEO. As per Forbes, this venture has boosted his net worth to £10 billion, sufficient to purchase any Premier League club, including Arsenal.
“We founded GF Biochemicals with the ambition of finding sustainable alternatives to oil-based products,” Flamini previously said of his business venture. The company is all about creating eco-friendly alternatives to the potentially harmful petrochemicals found in everyday items such as plastic, rubber and even bath gel.
While his business success may well have earned him enough money to launch a takeover bid should he wish to, current Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke has rebuffed all previous attempts to acquire the club. But when quizzed about the prospect of buying Arsenal in a chat with The Athletic, Flamini stated: “Football is the No.1 sport, it is driving so much attention, the hot issues of this world should also be on the agenda of the governing bodies.
“It’s a world that I belong to. If there is the right opportunity at the right time and the right discussion, if I meet people who are the same vision and mindset and desire to use football for a purpose, I would love to.
“Obviously, those clubs [Arsenal and Marseille] have a special place in my heart.
“I never forget where I come from. In life, you never know but it’s all about the right opportunity. I’m a real believer in the right time, right place, right people. We’ll see what the future is made of.
“I’m a believer. If you want something very much, the universe usually brings it to you. Let’s see what the universe will bring.”
Speaking previously on buying the Gunners, Flamini said: “No! Don’t ask me how I’ll be involved in football, because it’s not something I’ve thought about. But, definitely, it’s something which I’ve been part of forever in my life. I will always want to be part of this community.”
Meanwhile, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek was the most recent high-profile figure to fail in his bid to buy Arsenal from Kroenke.
