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Footballer Michael Chopra faces losing half his estimated £6million fortune to his estranged wife – despite their marriage only lasting weeks.

The Cardiff City striker rowed with model Heather Swan just hours after taking their vows.

They then split-up on honeymoon and when they returned to the UK ended up living apart.

Heather, 25, is understood to want around half of the ex-Sunderland star’s wealth.

In response, Chopra – now on £25,000 a week – has posted on his Facebook profile: “Heather Swan: gold digger,” surrounded by a wad of cartoon dollar notes. A source said: “After splitting within days of their marriage, the couple tried to resolve their differences.

“Their marriage has been over for months but they only recently decided to go ahead with divorce proceedings.

“Michael is living in Cardiff while Heather is at the former marital home in Newcastle. Heather blames him for the collapse of their marriage and wants financial security for life – for herself and their young son.

“Before marrying, they were together for seven years and Heather believes she was fully supportive of Michael’s football career – the highs and the lows.

“She stood by Michael when he went into rehab, but now feels she’s being made a laughing stock. She feels like she’s the victim in all this.

“She has been told she is entitled to about half of the money he earned during this time.

“Although technically they were married for over a year, they have been separated for months and only really made a go of things for about five weeks in total. While Heather feels she is being reasonable, Michael is incensed. He feels he is being taken to the cleaners. Things are incredibly hostile between them.”

The couple exchanged vows on June 13 last year at a lavish £150,000 ceremony for 200 guests at Orchardleigh House in Somerset.

But they fell out that evening and were still rowing in front of guests at their wedding breakfast the next day.

They fought throughout their honeymoon in Capri, prompting Michael, 26 – who has battled a gambling addiction – to return home alone while Heather went on to holiday in Barbados, as planned.

They separated and announced their split on Facebook this year.

Last night, spokesmen for both Heather and Michael said they had no comment.