Barcelona considering move for veteran Chelsea star
Published:A sparkling eight-year Chelsea tenure is set to come to an end for Didier Drogba this summer, with Spanish giants Barcelona now interested in securing the Ivorian’s services.
Drogba has long declared a will to remain at Stamford Bridge, but with the Blues failing to offer him the two year deal he desires, the 34-year-old has now accepted it is time to move on.
It was initially believed that Drogba would reunite with former Chelsea team-mate Nicolas Anelka at Shanghai Shenhua, with the Chinese side willing to offer astronomical wages to land the powerful forward.
Barcelona are now intent on scuppering that move however, having been mightily impressed with Drogba’s showings in the sides’ Champions League semi-final clashes.
The Catalan outfit struggled to deal with aspect’s of Drogba’s physical play across those two legs, as he hit the winner in the initial outing, and caused no end of problems for the Barca backline at the Nou Camp.
He is a player of the ilk not often associated with Barcelona, but his ruthless, physical style of play could see him become an integral cog in one of the world’s finest sides.
Drogba’s pedigree is undoubted, after notching 100 goals in his Chelsea career, and averaging more than a goal every two games internationally, so he would be more than adequate cover for the returning David Villa next season.
New Barca boss Tito Vilanova is reportedly willing to offer Drogba the two-year contract he wants, and as no transfer fee would be required, the striker would be afforded a wage packet in the region of £5million.
Whilst a much healthier financial package would be on offer at Shanghai Shenhua, Drogba could be tempted by the prospect of lining up alongside the likes of Lionel Messi, and still challenging for silverware in the twilight of his career.
