France international footballer N’Golo Kante has displayed his ownership prowess by acquiring the Belgian third-tier club Royal Excelsior Virton, Soccernet.ng reports.
This move comes hot on the heels of Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote’s unsuccessful attempts to secure ownership of Valenciennes football club in France and, before that, Arsenal FC.
Dangote, an ardent football enthusiast, had previously encountered disappointment in his bid to purchase Arsenal FC, and his recent endeavour to acquire Ligue 2 side Valenciennes met a similar fate.
In light of these setbacks, Africa’s richest man Dangote may need to humble himself and seek guidance from Kante on how to successfully complete a club takeover.
On July 1, N’Golo Kante, who currently plies his trade in the Premier League with Chelsea, will assume the role of chairman at Royal Excelsior Virton. He will complete his anticipated move to Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Arabia Pro League on the same day.
Royal Excelsior Virton are striving to regain their professional license and will participate in the Belgian National Division 1 during the upcoming 2023-24 season.
This division is two steps below Belgium’s top-tier league, the Belgian Pro League.
The club has not disclosed whether Kante paid a fee for the acquisition, asserting they are debt-free. Additionally, a board of directors will be established in the following days.
Kante’s acquisition of Royal Excelsior Virton mirrors a recent trend among professional players, with the announcement of Wilfried Zaha’s collaboration with rapper Stormzy to purchase AFC Croydon Athletic earlier this week.
