Family to battle for Toon ace’s £10million

2 wives, a mistress, 50 siblings in mix

THE family of polygamous footie star Cheick Tiote face a complex legal wrangle over his estimated £10million fortune.

The former Newcastle United star had two wives, a mistress and around 50 brothers and sisters. And it is believed Tiote, who died aged 30 after a suspected heart attack while training in China on June 4, did not leave a will.

His first wife, Madah Tiote, is believed to be expecting their third child. He wed second wife Laeticia Doukrou in his native Ivory Coast in 2014 – and also had a child with Zimbabwean Nkosiphile Mpofu, 33. His father was also a polygamist who had eight wives. Tiote was one of nine full siblings with dozens of half-siblings. A source close to the player, who earned £14million in English football before moving to Beijing Enterprises in February, said: “Cheick died so young. I’d be shocked if he had a will. “He would send money home for his family. But it is hard to know how his assets will be sorted between his wives, children and relatives.” Tiote’s body was flown to Ivory Coast for a private funeral after current and former teammates gathered for a memorial in China. His agent, Emanuele Palladino, has declined to comment on whether he left a will.