Manchester United stalwarts also feature…
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The Times today released a list of the 30 richest sports persons in Britain. Formula One duo Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button took the first two positions, but 15 footballers also made the 30, including superstars from money bags Manchester City and Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United – and some veteran Premier League stars who are now available on free transfers!
Surprisingly, no Arsenal stars made the list.
15) Robin van Persie – £17m
RVP has bagged 180 Premier League goals, and looks set to be made Manchester United’s new captain under Dutch boss Louis van Gaal.
14) Damien Duff – £18m
Duff won the Premier League with Chelsea during his heyday, but has just been released by Fulham, where he spent five years. He first appeared in the Premier League way back in 1997.
Click through the pages to read the rest of the top 15!
13) David Silva – £20m
The mercurial Spaniard has the ability to thread intricate passes through to City’s brilliant attacker practically at will – and is paid handsomely as a result.
12) Sergio Aguero – £20m
City’s Argentine forward signed for a whopping £38m before the start of the 2011/12 season, and he paid them back by scoring the goal that won them their first Premier League title.
11) Joe Cole – £21m
Rated phenomenally highly as a teenager, Cole won titles with Chelsea and over 50 caps with England, but arguably never truly fulfilled his huge potential.
10) Ashley Cole – £21m
Eight clubs are currently chasing the English left-back, whose contract at Chelsea isn’t being extended. he will likely sign for the club who offer him the biggest lump sum – and with Monaco circling, this could be astronomical.
9) Petr Cech – £22m
Cech’s won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups and a Champions League with Chelsea, since becoming one of the first arrivals at Stamford Bridge under Jose Mourinho over ten years ago.
8) Yaya Toure – £23m
The Ivorian powerhouse fired Manchester City to the Premier League last term with 20 strikes, but rumours are increasing that he could return to Barcelona this summer.
7) Fernando Torres – £31m
Since arriving in England in 2007, Torres has scored 85 Premier League goals, but has only managed to bag 20 in three and a half seasons with Chelsea since arriving for £50m.
6) John Terry – £31m
Terry has skippered Chelsea since the early Noughties, and although he has often been criticised for his behaviour off the pitch – his ability in defence is unquestionable.
5) Ryan Giggs – £36m
Giggs played for United for over two decades, winning everything there is to win in the game, and probably earning every penny of his £39m – although his brother might disagree…
=3) Frank Lampard – £37m
Lampard is joint third on the football rich list with the man he used to play alongside for England.
=3) Steven Gerrard – £37m
Liverpool’s legendary captain will lead England out at this summer’s World Cup, and if he doesn’t retire after the tournament, he could well break the all-time international cap record.
2) Rio Ferdinand – £44m
Ferdinand is available on a free transfer now, and it doesn’t seem as though he’ll need to move anywhere for money!
1) Wayne Rooney – £60m
At just 28-years-old, the extent to the wealth Rooney will be sitting on by the time his career draws to its close is pretty unfathomable. His £300k-per-week contract will probably help, too.