Inside the multi-million pound mansions that football legends like Phil Neville and Gareth Barry can’t sell
WITH three-figure salaries it's easy to see how footballers can afford to splash their cash on opulent mansions and penthouses with some pretty hefty price tags.
But, with so few people being able to afford such a lavish lifestyle, many footballers are struggling to shift their grand homes once they decide to move on.
It’s no surprise, then, that some players' multi-million pound homes spend years on the market without a bite from potential buyers.
We've found homes from Phil Neville, Gareth Barry, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Ashley Ward and Marouane Fellaini have all had trouble selling.
Property expert Henry Pryor isn’t surprised that football stars can’t sell their pads.
He told The Sun: “The market these days is tougher than it was three or four years ago and the top end especially so.
The property was built in 1897 using mellow Cheshire red brick and dressed with Cheshire stone.
Prior to being bought by Ward, the house was home to a call centre with around 100 staff, and many of the luxury features were forgotten.
The property has now been fully refurbished, and comprises of the main house as well as a spacious outbuilding.
In the house there are two cloakrooms, a dining room, playroom, breakfast kitchen and a sun room.
There’s also plenty to entertain with a luxurious cinema room, games room and bar.
The on-site leisure suite also hosts an enviable swimming pool, large Jacuzzi, gym and plant room.
There is a three-bedroom staff flat in the outbuildings as well as a boardroom, several offices and two kitchens.
Marouane Fellaini’s 6-bedroom house - £2million
Former Manchester United player Marouane Fellaini left the club in earlier this year to join Chinese club Shandong Luneng.
But he's still looking for a buyer for his home in Manchester, which has been on the market since November 2018.
The stunning gated home has six en-suite bedrooms, some of which include polished Oak floors and walk-in wardrobes.
The spacious entrance hall opens directly into an open-plan kitchen and family area, which is fitted throughout in a minimal modern style.
Next to the living area is a large leisure complex including a pool, hot tub, sauna and gym.
The property also has a detached annex which has its own living area and kitchen.
There are stunning landscaped gardens surrounding with q river on one boundary with a decking balcony overlooking it.
Phil Neville's 4-bed penthouse - £3.5million
Former Manchester United footballer and head of the England women's team, Phil Neville, put his four-bedroom penthouse flat in Manchester on the market back in 2010, and it’s still listed for sale nine years later.
Taking up the 44, 45 and 46th floor, the 5,000sq ft flat is one of the priciest pads for sale in the city centre at a cool £3.5million.
Mr Neville probably isn’t in a hurry to sell anymore, however, as the property is currently being rented to tenants on a two-year lease.
The property has floor-to-ceiling windows revealing panoramic city views and is currently listed on Rightmove.
It has five parking spaces, a home cinema room and three private terraces.
The kitchen has recently been fitted and compliments the open plan living area.
The main living area and upstairs bedrooms are connected by a grand spiral staircase.
You might also want to take a look inside the amazing Napoleonic fort built that's on sale for £.125million.
If these homes are bit out of your league then it might be worth checking out this three-bed semi that's on sale for £270,000 - and it has a hot tub.
Yesterday, we shared expert views on how the housing market could be fixed.
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