A property tycoon who lost his wife to former Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas has now lost the former family home too after a judge refused to halt its £5.5 million sale to the footballer.

Elie Taktouk, 38, whose ex-wife, Daniella Semaan, gave birth to Fabregas’s baby in April, tried to block the sale on the basis that the Barcelona star’s offer was £2 million less than its value.

The Grade-II listed Belgravia flat, close to Buckingham Palace, had been ordered for sale as part of divorce proceedings in order to provide money for Ms Semaan to buy her own home.

But Mr Taktouk soon learned it was her new boyfriend who had put an offer on the table within three weeks of the flat going on the market.

After the sale to Fabregas, 25, was approved by the High Court, Mr Taktouk launched a last-ditch bid for time to look for a bid closer to his £7.5 million valuation of the apartment, where his ex was still living.

But after a Court of Appeal hearing, the footballer and his Lebanese girlfriend were the winners when Lord Justice Floyd threw out Mr Taktouk’s application to block the sale to the former Arsenal captain.

Mr Taktouk and his ex-wife have two children but separated in 2011, months after Ms Semaan was seen on holiday with Fabregas.