Who are you talking to?

Didier Drogba would like to leave Chelsea. This in itself is nothing unusual: history is littered with similar instances.

Ruud van Nistelrooy was hardly a spent force when he left United two years ago, and his goal record for Real Madrid is still reasonably impressive. It certainly seems as though Thierry Henry had had his head turned by the bright lights of the Camp Nou for some time before Arsene actually cut him loose, although the wily Frenchman timed his blessing well. T14 in Barcelona has been a shadow of the elegant figure that carried all before him at Highbury.

What I can’t remember – and I’m sure United and Arsenal fans will set me straight if memory deals me a dog turd – is these players going on record mid-season to explain that their heart is elsewhere. I won’t blather on about respect… a rare commodity indeed in today’s game. But for someone who has consistently defended the big man, and given him effusive and deserved praise for what he has become in the last two years, I’m starting to wonder if I misjudged him. Not as a footballer, but rather as a man of above-average intelligence.

The thing is this. Drogba is one of those guys who says what he feels. Heart on the sleeve. His efforts to bring his strife-ridden country together are utterly, utterly admirable. His fervent wish to captain his country in the African Cup of Nations is deserving of everyone’s respect, none more so than his club. To that end, he’s encouraged to have an operation early, thus missing even more games for the organisation that remunerates him so handsomely. He triumphantly returns to the bench for a cup tie, gets a few minutes on the pitch, and is sent off to join his national squad with the best possible chance of playing to the limits of his fate-given gifts, which are considerable.

In return, this ambassador for the game sees fit to explain to the French press that he wants to leave; that he’s wanted to go for three seasons; that Mourinho’s exit has underlined that desire; and that “I am not going to speak about my next club”, rumoured to be Milan and presumably a tearful and sweaty reunion with Jose.

It reminds me a little of Peter Kenyon’s announcement to the world that Chelsea need to win Champions’ League twice in 5 years, or that they’re aiming to become the World’s Biggest Club™ by 2010. What purpose does it serve? Who does it benefit? Who, exactly, are these people talking to? Is Drogba best friends with a Eurosport journalist? If not, why does he feel the need to bare his soul to them? I may walk into my office every morning and feel a familiar sense of dread, depression and misery, but it never occurs to me to tell a stranger. To be honest, it doesn’t often occur to me to tell my nearest and dearest, but that may well be the reason that I get through so much Xanax. 

What is it with these guys? Does it not feel “real” to you until you see it in the paper? I can’t think of a more elegant illustration of the twisted reality that star footballers seem to inhabit: the need to make “announcements” to a newspaper. It’s almost as ludicrous as those occasional “Gerrard backs Carragher”, “Carragher backs Gerrard”, “Rooney backs Ronaldo” and so on and so forth. Well, of course they bloody back them. Is this news? No, it’s Dog Bites Man. Give me Man Bites Dog any day. “Gerrard calls Carragher a whiny Scouse no-mark”… now THAT would be news.   

Comments

[dixon9]

There seems no doubt that he believes he wants to leave (again) although he could well change his mind (again).

A bit of ego massaging, possibly another contract (he still has 3 odd years to run on the current one)...

Milan? It turns out that maybe Drogba isn´t in Milan´s plans after Berlussconis recent comments. And where Jose ends up is presumably where Drogba wants to go.

For Drogba to leave Jose would have to be there and the club would have to pay a pretty penny indeed in wages and transfer fee to get him - it´s not as cut and dry as the player might think it is.

[G.]

I think it's unfair to blame Drogba for saying what is on his mind. I prefer that than for him to do an Arjen Robben and deny he wants to move all the way up to him leaving.

He's a great striker and I respect him so much for what he's done for the Ivory Coast and at Chelsea.

If he leaves, it happens, Chelsea fans should show admiration for last season when Drogba kept us in 4 competitions and played his damn heart out for the club. If he doesn't love Chelsea anymore, let him go and be happy. It's the least we can do to thank him.

[Pavel]

I think drogba is an excellent striker, as i'm sure everyone that watches a little tiny bit of football would agree; however if he wants to leave Chelsea can surely cash in, and redeem the 50 million that were wasted on Sheva, i think Sheva is the most overated striker that plays for a bigger club..his passing abbilities are horrific, and his ability to position himself in a good spot for an attempt on goal are even worse. The fans showed their support, myself included, but he is just never going to understand how bad he has performed for the price paid. I'm not even certain anyone would pay decent money for him right now. What a waste of space. But with all the players seeking out of their current clubs , selling didier and snatching berbatov from tottenham would and might be the best transfer move chelsea made after the world cup.

[joe]

if he wants to leave fair enough - whatever contract he is on he still may not be happy at chelsea. He has always put in 100%, and if he continues to play with maximum effort and score goals for chelsea, you can't criticise his honesty.

[sonny]

I think Chelsea should sell him. We could get some serious money for him while he is still at his peak.

[Peter Flinkenberg]

It would be nice if the stars of today showed a little loyalty to the clubs that made them what they are, or at a minimum show some respect to those that pay their way in life.

I fail to see how anyone could be so desperately unhappy if their role in life is to kick a ball, for the massed enjoyment and adulation of 42,000 paying customers, all while earning £90k a week!

[Hassan Mubarak Esbaiss]

drogba departure?
When I met Didier, here in Doha capital city of the Gulf state of Qatar, during a friendly game between Ivory Coast elephants and Qatar National Football Team in Doha; I asked him about his future in the English League, and his situation with the Blues after Jose Mourinho departure, he hesitate a bit to talk openly, but finally he admitted that things have changed at stanfordbridge, and that he owes too much to jose.He was very diplomatic while saying " a professionel player has no club -nation".
Drogba has no secret to hide while talking about his strong relation with portuguese coach jose mourinho, and that "this man has re-discovered me".
It is no surprise to see didier out of his blue T-shirt next year.Why not Bayern Munich as there are rumours that jose mourinho may be there next season?!we'll see then.Now drogba is heading to lead his national team to ghana 2008 as the captain.
HASSAN MUBARAK ESBAISS
Sports journalist editor
Doha, Qatar

[Alexander Saad]

On arrival to Chelsea Drogba started out as the biggest diver outisde Portugese football. We (fans) didn't appreciate his theatrics however through chats with JT and Lamps, and with the coaching & man management skills of Mourinho, he became one of the leading strikers in world football. So how does he repay us? I never wanted to join? I won't talk about my new club? When the ACON finishes, tell him to stick around with his family for the next 5 months. Never let him don the proud Chelsea shirt again.
Disgruntled Blue.

[Rob]

"When Chelsea bought Sheva what signal was Drogba supposed to get. He is not a coward like them who aimed to replace him but continued to smile at him."

Utter nonsense. Sheva has never shown any sign of taking Drogba's place.

[peter shaw]

I think that nearly all of us (fans) of any kind of talented athlete or actor want our stars not only to be talented but also to be nice people with integrity and character . Unfortunately being gifted is just that and the other stuff is mostly wishful thinking

[Peter Bench]

Usual guesswork. Drogba has said - according to L'Equipe - that he's wanted to leave from signing his first contract and then signing his second much bigger contract. He's no more lilely top leave or stay than any other player - have Milan got that sort of money?

[mchugh]

When Chelsea bought Sheva what signal was Drogba supposed to get. He is not a coward like them who aimed to replace him but continued to smile at him. During this period, only Mourinho was willing to give him an opportunity, and so the departure of a trusted person means you have nobody watching your back, so why stay.