Footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic's mansion was the most viewed property on Rightmove in 2018

A luxury Cheshire pad, once home to premiership footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic, tops the list of Rightmove's most popular properties of the year

It may have an asking price of over £5m and look more at home in the Italian Riviera, but the 10,000-foot former home of Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been named as one of the most viewed properties online this year.

The former Manchester United footballer reportedly rented out the stunning property for £32,000 per week. It's now on the market, after Ibrahimović moved to the US to play for LA Galaxy.

For sale with Gascoigne Halman, the luxury Cheshire mansion is spread over four floors, boasting an imposing gated entrance and landscaped gardens crying out for alfresco summer parties.

Wow-factor homes

It’s not the only spectacular property to have scored highly on a list of top performing listings for online estate agents Rightmove. Outside of the UK, the luxury Spanish villa where One Direction launched their bid for superstardom on the X Factor in 2010, proved a popular pick too.

“It’s easy to see why some of these jaw-droppingly glamorous properties have attracted so much attention, whether it’s people just wanting to have a nosy inside some of the mansions or those looking for design inspiration," said the website's property expert Miles Shipside.

UK's most popular properties

Along with Ibrahimovic's mansion, here are the four homes that make up the top five most viewed of 2018.

Glenborrodale Castle, Scotland

Credit: Bell Ingram

Live out your Game of Thrones or Outlander fantasies at this fairytale baronial palace. With acres of grounds on a remote arm of the west Scottish mainland, it's for sale with Bell Ingram for a mere £3,750,000. See more breathtaking British castles for sale.

Cappers Lane, Cheshire

Credit: Jackson Stops

Accessed down a tree-lined avenue, this country house estate, marketed by Jackson Stops, comes with a Jacuzzi, gym and (our favourite bit) a wine room. Plus, it has some of the neatest manicured gardens we have ever seen. It is currently under offer though, so put your £5,950,000 away. See more charming Cheshire counry homes for sale.

The Park, St Albans

Credit: Cassidy and Tate

This opulant property is located on one of St Albans' most desirable roads, and comprises 10,000 square-feet of living space. With a home cinema, underground parking and a smart home system, it comes with every bell and whistle imaginable. Currently on the market with Cassidy and Tate, price is available on appointment only, so you might be better off checking out these homes for sale in St Albans to shop for alternatives.

The College, Devon

Credit: Strutt & Parker

Once home to Samuel Taylor Coleridge, this unique dwelling in Ottery St Mary is steeped in history. The vast property includes a whole host of quirky spaces, including a Victorian bird house, billiards room, gymnasium and coach house, along with an enormous library, designed to Lord Coleridge's 18,000 books.This one-of-a-kind estate is on the market with Strutt & Parker for a princely £7 million.

Featured image: Gascoigne Halman