Didier Drogba set his sights on the MLS soon after he made his Chelsea goodbye at the end of May. Shortly after ending his Stamford Bridge career by being part of a Premier League championship team, the talk began that Major League Soccer might be the perfect place for him. Today, there are claims that the Chicago Fire are leading the chase to acquire his services.
(Update: Fire Manager says this transaction could be complete within 48 hours)
Update: Jose Mourinho backs Didier Drogba to succeed in MLS.
“If I owned a club I would immediately think about a player like him — a man like him — to be the centre of the club’s universe. He is very strong in the dressing room. He is very strong in his image. He is a great example of a club man and the fact that he didn’t accept an offer to stay with us,” Mourinho said.
“At the end of last season we let him choose what he wanted to do with us. For him not to accept that, and decide to delay coaching for two years’ time, because obviously he will be back with us in two years’ time; to not accept that and say clearly that he still wants to enjoy his football two more years is the best answer. He feels in great conditions for two more years.”
Update: Chicago Fire confirm pursuit/interest in Didier Drogba via the Twitter account of Chief Operating Officer Atul Khosla
1/3) Looking to clear the air #cf97… https://t.co/2MqQFAK01E
— Atul Khosla (@atulkhosla) July 21, 2015
2/3) Working to get Didier Drogba to #cf97, would love to have him, have been going through discovery process as we have the rights
— Atul Khosla (@atulkhosla) July 21, 2015
3/3) Our club has been in regular dialogue over past 3 weeks with Didier Drogba and his representatives #cf97
— Atul Khosla (@atulkhosla) July 21, 2015
If the Fire don’t sign him, the main team in competition with Chicago to acquire his services is the Montreal Impact; reports MLS.com
The 37-year-old turned down a move to the Fire in 2012, and instead decided to join Shanghai, according to the Daily Star. But now the Daily Mail is indicating that Drogba’s move to the Fire could be coming soon. If it holds true, the transaction would certainly fit the specific type of niche MLS appears to be developing now.
Longtime Liverpool Captain Steven Gerrard just began his L.A. Galaxy career. The 37-year-old Frank Lampard, another longtime Chelsea star has moved to New York City FC. Thirty-six year old Andrea Pirlo, a former Juventus playmaker, joined Lampard in NYC. Gerrard, 35, and Lampard were appointed to the MLS All-Star game later this month before either have even played in a minute in the American top flight.
That certainly does make the MLS all-star game look like a bit of a joke. This year, the MLS All-Stars will take on Tottenham Hotspur.
As for Didier Drogba, any team that he decides to sign with will get him on a free transfer.
If this move goes through it will further establish the precedent were starting to see in the MLS.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous sports talk radio stations all across the country.
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