Even though it came from the French rumor mill, this is something Galatasaray fans will not like to hear: Veteran Ivorian striker Didier Drogba may be leaving Galatasaray, known as the Lions, according to French daily L'Équipe.
Drogba joined Galatasaray from Shanghai Shenhua in the January transfer window on an 18-month deal, meaning his contract will expire in early summer. He helped the Lions win the Spor Toto Super League championship last season and advance to the last eight of the big-time UEFA Champions League, where they were eliminated by Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid.
L'Équipe claims the 35-year-old Drogba wanted to return to Olympique de Marseille, the club he played for in 2003-04 before moving to Chelsea (2004-12), where he gained international fame, and that the Ivorian has already agreed a two-year deal with the Ligue 1 club.
"From time to time I watch the matches I played with this team [Marseille] on DVD, and then I remember how much I miss this city that made me king," the newspaper quoted Drogba as saying.
"After London [Chelsea], Shanghai and İstanbul [Galatasaray], who would have dreamed I could sign a two-year contract with Marseille?" he asked. "No amount of money will ever replace the dreams I experienced in 2010. Of course money is very important in this life, but I think I have made enough money so far. I was well received in 2010 when I returned with the Chelsea jersey to [Stade] Velodrome [in the last match in Group F of the Champions League]," L'Équipe quoted the Ivorian as saying.
"The fans hoisted a banner with the message 'Welcome to your home' in the stadium. Now I am going to wear the Marseille jersey again. It looks as if nothing has changed," the daily quoted Drogba as saying.
Drogba started his playing career with Le Mans (1998-2002) before moving on to Guingamp (2002-03) and then to Marseille before joining Chelsea the following season, where he played until 2012.
Drogba scored 157 times in 341 appearances with Chelsea, making him the club's fourth all-time leading scorer. He won everything in England, and his strength and speed made him a handful for many world-class defenders.
He was Chelsea's Champions League talisman in the 2011-12 season, scoring a brilliant headed equalizer in the final against Bayern Munich to force extra time and then scoring the winning penalty in the shootout.
