Two ex-Man Utd stars who were rich before they became professional footballers
Manchester United have had several footballers in their ranks who, despite earning fortunes from their careers, were already coming from immensely wealthy families
by Samuel Meade · The MirrorFormer Manchester United pair Robin van Perise and Gerard Pique enjoyed trophy-laden careers.
Van Persie helped the Red Devils win their most recent Premier League title back in 2013. His summer switch from Arsenal proved an inspired move from Sir Alex Ferguson with the Dutchman excelling in the final third.
Ferguson also signed a young Pique from Barcelona in 2004 with an eye to the future. He played for several years in Manchester before going back to the Nou Camp, where he was an integral part of, what many see as, the greatest club side in history.
Van Persie and Pique will have benefited hugely from a financial standpoint during their careers. Both men were leading lights and will have earned top dollar - but not that they necessarily needed to. Both come from incredibly wealthy families and were by no means rags to riches stories.
The Spaniard’s father, Joan, is a lawyer and a businessman. His mother also made a success of her life as she worked as a director at a hospital in Barcelona. Alongside that his grandfather, Amador Bernabéu, was well-known as a former director at Barcelona, adding to the family’s notable background.
Van Persie's family consisted of a household full of artists - his mother was a painter and a jewellery designer. His father, Bob was a renowned sculptor. He previously paid tribute to his son's career by saying: “We both work very hard to achieve what we want, you know. And I think that’s important too. It doesn’t come by itself. He has had to work hard."
Pique himself, now retired, has gone on to be creative in business and has founded the Kings League in his homeland. It is a seven-a-side football format which several fancy quirks as its popularity continues to grow in Barcelona.
Described by Pique as "football but it is not football." The usual rules apply but in the second-half each team can make a tweak to the rules - these include having their goals count double, getting rid of an opposition player or having a penalty whenever it suits.
Van Persie meanwhile has gone more conventional as is currently in the early stages of his managerial career. The ex-Arsenal and United star is now in charge of Dutch side Heerenveen. Prior to that he had begun his education as a coach at his first club, Feyenoord.
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