The pros who place wages above loyalty and professional conduct

At a time when the business around the world are universally tightening their belt buckles amid fears of an imminent recession, there remains a breed of character in the beautiful game who believe they are owed a living, and clubs should feel blessed to pay them top dollar for their services.

In no particular order, here’s ten people in football who are more concerned about putting another Maserati on the driveway than advancing the prospects of their club…

Emanuel Adebayor
It’s possible that Adebayor feels unappreciated by Arsenal fans, who prefer to whine about his misses against Liverpool and Man United rather than his 30 goals. Yet the way he pledged to stay at Arsenal, only to U-turn hours later was bold behaviour for a player who has given his club to just one great season and no trophies.

Frank Lampard
Princess Frank is always eager to show his love for Chelsea by kissing his badge at every opportunity, but it seems there are limits to his affection. Despite turning 30 recently, Lampard believes that a four-year deal at £140,000-a-week is unreasonable; only a five-year £150,000-a-week deal will suffice. Otherwise, he will be kissing Inter Milan’s badge/ Jose’s lips in the very near future.

Cristiano Ronaldo
Despite signing a five-year deal for £120,000-a-week, making him United’s highest-paid player ever, just over a year ago, Ronaldo believes it would be akin to slave labour to keep him there any longer. Rumours he would be offered a stupendous £200,000-a-week and the chance to sit on Sepp Blatter’s knee have clearly influenced him.

Robinho
The poor Brazilian got all upset because Real Madrid preferred Cristiano Ronaldo to him, and made his agent release a statement saying he was just as good as him. Now Chelsea are interested, and as things are so quiet on the Ronaldo front, he has demanded that Real Madrid double his wages.

James McFadden
Birmingham showed great faith in the Everton reserve by splashing out £5 million on him in January. The Scot announced that he would stay in the Midlands regardless of relegation, but less than six months after joining, upon hearing of Celtic’s interest, he decided he is too good for the Championship and wants another payday.

Wayne Bridge
The Chelsea left-back has spent two years blissfully playing second fiddle to Ashley Cole. This summer, with Portsmouth showing interest, he had a chance to do something about it. And what did he do? Sign a new four-year contract guaranteeing him a £16.6 million payday just to look pretty on the Chelsea bench.

Danny Shittu
Easily the most insignificant player on the list, but that only serves to make his demands even greedier. Rangers kindly offered to save Shittu from Championship obscurity but Mister Mediocre responded by demanding £20,000-a-week. Walter Smith swiftly said no and pulled out of a deal.

Ronaldinho
The Brazilian may have accepted what is said to be a smaller offer from Milan, but that probably owes more to the fact the nightlife and pasta is better there than any kind of “money means nothing” attitude. Ronaldinho can’t even be bothered to stay in shape, but clings to the belief that he should be paid top dollar because he was the best player in the world a few years ago.

Rafa Benitez
He’s fully entitled to demand eight figures for Peter Crouch when he has just a year left on his contract and can expect £16 million for Xabi Alonso when he wants shot of him, but if Aston Villa want to demand a few million extra for their captain who they had no intention of selling, then the whole world must be against Liverpool.

Didier Drogba
Drogba always does whatever suits Drogba. This summer, however he hasn’t had many opportunities to showcase the magnitude of his greed. All season long we heard about how he wanted to leave but by the time the season had finished, nobody seemed interested in signing him. Now his agent Thierno Seydi revealed he will back down sign a new contract if there are no offers in the next ten days.

Why can’t they all just be like…

Lee Carsley
The Irish midfielder missed just five of Everton’s 54 matches last season and was offered an extension to stay with the Champions League chasers. However, he decided to step down a division to join hometown club Birmingham, to move closer to his family and guarantee first team football for a sustained period.