Former Ghana international defender Samuel Osei Kuffour has strongly refuted claims that Michael Essien is facing financial difficulties, insisting that the former Chelsea midfielder is extremely wealthy.
Kuffour, who played for Bayern Munich and AS Roma in the 2000s, has spoken out against the report from Daily Guide that suggested Essien was experiencing financial challenges due to two of his houses being slated for auction.
According to Kuffour, who knows Essien’s financial situation intimately, the former midfielder possesses significant assets and remains financially secure.
“To bring out the news and say Michael is broke is a shame. It is a shame that we think so negatively about our people. We should be positive; Michael is not broke. We are talking about a house that they took from him, which cost $20 million, and another one that costs $30 million,” Kuffour told Angel FM’s Saddick Adams.
“Nobody with a proper conscience will come out and say all kinds of things. You never spoke to the person; you never know exactly what the person is going through. So, how can you justify saying someone is broke?
Kuffour emphasized that it’s unfair to speculate about someone’s financial situation without knowing the facts.
“You would have to know if he comes to your house and begs for food, then you can justify it. I know the kind of assets that Michael has, and I will not stand anywhere and say Michael is broke. Michael is filthy rich,” he added.
The former international defender highlighted Essien’s illustrious career, which took him from the Ghana Premier League to top clubs like Lyon, Chelsea, Real Madrid, and AC Milan. He also noted Essien’s achievements with Chelsea, including multiple league titles, FA Cups, and the UEFA Champions League in 2012.
After retiring from playing, Essien has ventured into coaching and currently serves as a first-team assistant coach at FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark.
