Former Arsenal star turned billionaire, Mathieu Flamini, has expressed his desire to buy out the Gunners’ owners, the Kroenke family. Flamini, who retired from playing in 2019, has achieved remarkable success in the business world, co-founding GFBiochemicals. His stake in the company now exceeds half, boosting his net worth to an astonishing £10billion, according to Forbes.
Earlier this year, the same American business magazine valued Arsenal at £2.6bn, suggesting that Flamini, aged 41, could feasibly purchase the club twice over. The ex-AC Milan midfielder has previously hinted at his interest in managing a club close to his heart, such as Arsenal or his childhood team, Marseille.
Speaking to The Athletic in 2023, he said: “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.”
Intriguingly, Flamini attributes his work ethic to two of his former Arsenal colleagues, Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp.
“I learnt to work. Work is very important and they were giving everything in training,” he shared. “Every little game was a fight, every little game was important to win and since then I have felt the same. Every game has to be won. The winning mentality is something that I remember well.
“I was very impressed because they were already top players and it was a chance to be with them every day, play with them and learn from them. I was feeling lucky but I wanted to be part of that group.”
Despite these comments, there’s no indication that owner Stan Kroenke is prepared to sell at this time. For now, Flamini is concentrating on GFBiochemicals.
He stated: “We founded GF Biochemicals with the ambition of finding sustainable alternatives to oil-based products.”
The firm is committed to developing environmentally friendly substitutes for potentially harmful petrochemicals found in everyday items, including plastic, rubber and even bath gel.
Flamini had previously dismissed the idea of football ownership, stating: “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.”