Didier Drogba, to Chelsea: It’s been real, but I’m really … gone
May 21, 2012, 4:09 PM EDT
Getty Images His last touch won a European Championship. Now, Didier Drogba is gone.
Chelsea’s talisman confirmed the news today, telling the magazine France Football “I am preparing for my leap into the unknown. It’s going to be another adventure.”
Even though it’s been three years since I said I wanted to leave, I find it hard to admit that it’s over with this club – especially as I did not feel like this. But I could not see myself sitting on the bench to watch others play when the club plans to set up a new team.
Speculation linking Didier Drogba to Shanghai Shenhua rests on shakier ground (no player quotes to affirm that one); regardless, Drogba is set to leave Europe’s champions with Fernando Torres as the top No. 9 on their depth chart.
Hey, Blues: There’s still time. Tell Didier he’s not destined for the bench. The guy was kinda good on Saturday. You may want to reevaluate.
If this really is goodbye, Drogba leaves Chelsea having scored 157 all-competition goals over his eight years at Stamford Bridge. He was a part of teams that won three Premier Leagues, four FA Cups, two League Cups and (or course) one Champions League.
And, unfortunately for us, there’s almost no chance he’ll come to MLS. If he’s going to be guided out of London, Drogba seems intent on making it worth his financial while.
Dear Mr. Zuckerberg: Please take the money I just gave you, buy the San Jose Earthquakes, and pay Didier Drogba $10 million per year to play in MLS. I’m a shareholder! You have to listen!
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- seanb20124 - May 21, 2012 at 4:43 PM
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Father time gets even the best.
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- baddorange - May 21, 2012 at 5:19 PM
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MLS to soccer is like a Yugo to the automobile
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- footballer4ever - May 21, 2012 at 5:53 PM
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Heck, LAG or NYRB could make a hefty offer he’s not able to resist. It’d be even better if SSFC pull out their wallet for once and break the leg out of their piggy bank. It’d be a good signing with huge return. No disrespect to the chinese league, but i am sure he could find more than $ on this side of the pond.
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- tylerbetts - May 21, 2012 at 6:07 PM
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And who do you suggest LAG jettison to make room for him? Donovan, Beckham, or Keane?
Realistically, RBNY and LAG are the only teams that could afford him. It wouldn’t be a smart move financially for RBNY to put more DP money into Striker when they are already doing quite well in that area, and LAG already have all three DP spots filled. Although – banking on RBNY to do the smart thing isn’t the smartest thing to do.
Could another club potentially open up the wallet and get him? Sure. SSFC, maybe Houston, Montreal, or Dallas. But it just doesn’t make sense. I also imagine that Drogba wouldn’t have a large list of cities he’d want to play in. Even at the saem dollar amount, i can’t see him going to a Columbus or a Kansas City.
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- yitbos93640 - May 21, 2012 at 6:12 PM
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Drogba flops WAY too much for English football, there isn’t a chance in hell he’d come here where we’d bitch even more than they do about it
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- ndnut - May 21, 2012 at 7:35 PM
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When is it officially over in London. I want to know if he’ll play in the friendly against SSFC, or maybe with them (I can dream!). I know it’s probably an obvious answer but I’m fairly new to the sport. 2010 WC hooked me on MLS and cable company promo gave me FSC and brought me to EPL.
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- rosesacl - May 21, 2012 at 9:48 PM
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bringing in drogba is useless if nobody can get him the ball, US midfielders dont have the skill to utilize drogbas potential. As a mls fan, i would welcome drogba but i would welcome a less talented midfielder who can distribute the ball effectively… Much more.
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- lunasceiling - May 22, 2012 at 10:57 AM
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Very good observation, rosesacl. We’ve been seeing this here in Portland, with the Timbers unable to give Kris Boyd much in the way of genuine opportunities. I realize Boyd’s more of a poacher than Drogba (who can create more chances on his own), but I think the dame thing woudl generally apply.
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- tackledummy1505 - May 22, 2012 at 10:29 AM
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Lol I know Nowak said he wanted him, but Drogba laughed at him. The Union could use him desperately and we pretty much sold our entire roster and we have international spots. Don’t forget the states has one thing a lot of other places don’t. That’s marketing, Nike, Gilette, Under Armor, etc. Lots of money in advertising. I know Beckham is probably killing it with H & M, Burger King, and Addidas. Lots of money there and probably more than he’ll make anywhere else
