Two soccer stars who cost a total of £85MILLION have been branded the biggest waste of money in Premier League history.
Fernando Torres scored just 20 league goals in 110 games for Chelsea after a £50million transfer from Liverpool.
And £35million Andy Carroll, who replaced him at Anfield, hit only six in 44 appearances.
Both head a Top of the Flops Virgin Media survey of 1,500 footy fans.
Third is Man United’s £80million Harry Maguire, the world’s most expensive defender. And 26 per cent of the supporters who took part thought the Red Devils were guilty of wasting the most cash since the start of the Premier League in 1992.
Big spenders Chelsea were second on 19 per cent and Arsenal third with 15 per cent.
The research also discovered fans spend on average £1,484 a year following their team.
Boiled down to age groups, 16 to 29-year-olds fork out an annual £2,000 while more careful over-60s shell out £700.
The survey delved into fans knowledge of football history and asked what they thought legendary players from the past would be worth nowadays.
They valued 1970 World Cup hero Pele at a cool £137million, David Beckham at £136million and yet another skilful Brazilian, Ronaldinho, at £135million.
England and Man United hero Bobby Charlton would fetch £128million. Maradona would be a comparative snip at £127million and 1966 World Cup captain Bobby Moore would be the world’s dearest defender at £124million.
Despite the vast sums top footballers earn, 43 per cent of fans said they deserve the money.
And when it came to what they valued in their heroes, they said being a team player (63 per cent) was the most important factor, followed by passion (62 per cent) and loyalty (54 per cent).
A spokesperson for Virgin Media, which commissioned the study, said: “It’s important that football fans spend wisely when following their team on TV – especially with no fans currently allowed inside stadiums. Virgin Media, yet again, provides the cheapest and most convenient way for football fans to watch all the football in one place.”
