
He may be the incredible sulk by reputation but Nicolas Anelka is once again laughing all the way to the bank.
The Frenchman's £15million switch to Chelsea from Bolton means he has now eclipsed Juan Veron as the most expensive footballer in the world. Add in signing-on fees, lavish contracts and goal bonuses and he is probably one of the wealthiest as well.
For most clubs, a history of attitude problems and dubious levels of commitment would be off-putting, yet the 28-year-old's star has remained undiminished.
Before today's switch to Stamford Bridge, Anelka was second on the alltime transfer list behind Veron (£76.2m).