Following a major court decision, an African legend and former Real Madrid star is now set to lose his mansions worth more than R360 million.
After a career that saw him represent an iconic list of clubs including Los Blancos, Chelsea and AC Milan, Michael Essien is believed to have been going through some serious financial strife since hanging up his boots in 2020.
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Those issues have seemingly become even more troubling for the 41-year-old after the Accra High Court in his home nation of Ghana ruled that two properties he owns would be put up for auction.
According to Naija News, the Deputy Sheriff of the Commercial High Court issued the order for the sale, with it claimed that one of the mansions owned by Essien could be sold for between $20 million (around R360 million) and $30 million (R540 million).
The former Black Star's reported financial difficulties are believed to have been caused by the failure to repay considerable loans he received from different banks and financial institutions in his native country after he retired from football.
After departing Milan in 2015, the former Blues star went on to represent Greek side Panathinaikos, before sealing a one-year stint at Indonesian outfit Persib Bandung and then signing for Azerbaijani club Sabail FK, where he closed the curtains on his career as a player in 2020.
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Since his retirement, Essien has been working as an assistant manager at FC Nordsjaelland, who compete in the Danish top flight.
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