Home > Football > Why it's time for Chelsea to cash in on Didier Drogba
by Edward Poulter on 01 December 2008
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It was reported last week that Chelsea striker Didier Drogba was involved in a secret meeting with officials of Inter Milan.
The Italian champions are supposedly interested in signing the Ivorian forward during the January transfer window in a move that would reunite him with his former Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho.
While Drogba has had a relatively successful spell at Chelsea, the relationship between the player and his club has begun to turn sour over the last few months. Maybe it is time for Chelsea to take a risk and sell a player who many regard as one of the Premier League's best strikers.
Drogba is a very talented footballer and when he is on top form is almost unstoppable. His physical presence means he always causes problems for defenders and he has an eye for goal to match the best finishers in the world.
However, injuries over the last 18 months mean that Chelsea fans have not seen the best of their Ivorian warrior for a while. There are few who doubt that given time Drogba could get back to his best but his injury problems are not the only cause for concern.
Controversy seems to follow Drogba around like a bad smell. Just when he appears to be getting his head down and concentrating on playing football, an incident occurs to disrupt the momentum of both him and his team.
For example, he is currently in the middle of a three-match ban after throwing a coin into the crowd during the Carling Cup match with Burnley. While Drogba will claim he was being wound up by the crowd, there is no excuse for this sort of behaviour.
While most Chelsea fans have probably forgiven him, it is also fair to say that Drogba played a huge part in Chelsea losing last season’s Champions League final against rivals Manchester United. He was sent off in extra time for slapping opponent Nemanja Vidic in a moment of madness.
Chelsea eventually lost the game on penalties but it was pointed out that Drogba would have been a certainty to take a spot-kick.
With this move to Inter Milan apparently on the horizon, it should be noted that this isn’t the first time Drogba has been unsettled at Stamford Bridge. Last season he regularly spoke out and told the press he was hoping to leave the club. Well, maybe Chelsea have finally had enough and are prepared to let him walk away.
Drogba is now 30 and will only have another two or three years at the top of his game before his value decreases rapidly. He is also not considered Chelsea’s first-choice striker this season with Nicolas Anelka emerging as Luiz Felipe Scolari’s first choice up front.
The form Anelka is currently in will make it hard for Drogba to get into the starting 11 and I’m sure he will not be too pleased about sitting on the bench every week.
Drogba is often known to sulk if he doesn’t get things his own way. With Chelsea entering an important few weeks, such tantrums could disrupt team morale and the chances of the club winning trophies.
Scolari is determined to win silverware and while results count, getting rid of one of his biggest players may prove to be a key decision.
Comments (1)
by Daniel Evans on June 14, 2009
Apparently Chelsea are going to swap Didier Drogba for Pato and £5m
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