Premier League - Drogba silent over Inter link

Eurosport - Wed, 26 Nov 19:35:00 2008

Didier Drogba has refused to comment on reports suggesting he met with Internazionale officials.

FOOTBALL Chelsea Drogba - 0

Jose Mourinho is understood to be interested in signing the Ivory Coast international, having previously worked with him at Chelsea.

Allegations have surfaced claiming Drogba and his agent recently met Inter's sporting director Marco Branca and Mourinho's representative for talks.

Mourinho insisted that he knew nothing about the discussions, although Blues boss Luis Felipe Scolari admitted he could not rule out the possibility that Drogba had met with Inter officials.

Drogba's future has been the subject of speculation for some time but the player himself is staying focused on Chelsea.

The striker, currently serving a three-match domestic suspension for throwing a coin back into the crowd against Burnley, is under contract at Stamford Bridge for two more years.

"I don't have anything to say," Drogba said.

"I am upset about the reaction on my comeback game, I made an error.

"I have always said I have a contract with Chelsea until 2010, no comment about the supposed meeting."

Chelsea are currently one point ahead of both Roma and Bordeaux in Group A, but defeat in the Stade Chaban-Delmas would leave the English side facing a tense last-round encounter with CFR Cluj at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was clearly irritated by the Drogba rumour.

"I do not sleep with him (Drogba)," retorted Scolari. "Where he was last night? I don't know. I am not a policeman for my players."

But when the Brazilian was asked if Drogba had been given permission to be in the company of Branca, Scolari's tone worsened.

He said: "Ask (chief executive) Peter Kenyon, ask (owner) Roman Abramovich. I don't know, I am only the coach."

The club were aware that the rumour was circulating throughout Tuesday afternoon but were determined not to talk publicly about it.

Inter coach Mourinho insists he has no plans to bring his former player to the San Siro despite the latest link.

"I don't know where Branca was, I was at dinner at Cernobbio," he said. "I know absolutely nothing about this story.

"I know on the other hand that Drogba is part of the history of Chelsea and, from afar, it seems to me that he is and will be a Chelsea player."

Drogba was heavily linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge in the summer but decided to remain with the Blues.

However, he missed over a month of the season with a knee injury and caused controversy in his comeback match when he threw a coin back at Burnley fans in Chelsea's Carling Cup defeat - earning himself a three-match ban in the process.

Drogba is still serving that suspension in England but can take part in European competitions and is part of the Chelsea squad in Bordeaux.

Sporting Life / Eurosport

Comment 22 - 41 of 61

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. I've been a Chelsea supporter for 58 years, and I'm sure by his sending off in the final, Drogba cost us the European Championship by his stupidity, now he is so well paid, he decides to throw his wealth into the crowd. Throw some this way Drogba, and then please p**s off. We can manage without your sort.

    From rex, on Wed 26 Nov 4:37PM

  2. There's not a dog's chance of this happening, not in January anyway. It doesn't matter how much Drogba wants to leave (if he does) or how much Mourinho wants him, there's NO WAY Inter are gonna fork out a transfer fee for a bloke under contract not to mention the fact that he's cup-tied for the Champions League, it's a waste.....Moreover, Inter are hardly going to give Mourinho money to spend when everything points to him leaving/being sacked anyway!!

    From roy, on Wed 26 Nov 4:13PM

  3. If Drogba wants to go let him go.
    As there's no point of keeping a player who would rather be at another club.
    Chelski should do what they do best & think about the money!! Sell Sell.

    From tc, on Wed 26 Nov 4:03PM

  4. ...and another refugee leaves the kings road....a great player when he plays a real sulk when he doesn't....can't see anyone sorting this supersized anelka out....maybe he should go hold jose's hand for a bit...

    From stuartxland, on Wed 26 Nov 3:53PM

  5. "ANELKA IS A GREAT GOALSCORER BUT THE DROG IS THE FINEST STRIKER AND TARGET MAN IN THE WORLD"

    Must be a small world you live in!

    From RossG, on Wed 26 Nov 3:49PM

  6. Everybody knows (i mean all the Chelsea fans NOT ME) that Drogba is a good player from Ivory Coast.

    From Nathan, on Wed 26 Nov 3:43PM

  7. ANELKA IS A GREAT GOALSCORER BUT THE DROG IS THE FINEST STRIKER AND TARGET MAN IN THE WORLD.THEY WILL COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER WHEN THEY START PLAYING TOGETHER SO ALL YOU DOUBTERS OUT THERE WILL BE EATING YOUR WORDS.HE AINT GOING NOWHERE COS HES GOT A POINT TO PROVE SO LETS WAIT AND SEE THE FIREWORKS WHEN THEY BOTH CLICK.UP THE CHELS

    From marc e, on Wed 26 Nov 3:41PM

  8. Am I the only Chelsea fan who doesn't write like George Agdgdgdwngo?

    From RossG, on Wed 26 Nov 3:31PM

  9. Nice soft grass in Italy for you to dive on and roll over! Cheating scabby haired w**ker!

    From D, on Wed 26 Nov 3:27PM

  10. As an Inter supporter I wouldn't like to see this player wearing our jersey.

    From flick f, on Wed 26 Nov 3:24PM

  11. i think that drogba should give full support to chelsea whereby he is a top striker in london... come on chelsea fan, don't listen to people who jealous and know how to talk bad about him.... he is not what they tought.. he is the most player that have the charisma in the field and always put the ball in the net for the last couple of years... he is a machine.... chelsea 4 eve.

    From zamri, on Wed 26 Nov 2:53PM

  12. Also, since when has Drogba been one of Chelsea's best strikers? LOL! Maybe to all the post 2003 fans, but those with a little longer memory, there's a list as long as your arm!

    From RossG, on Wed 26 Nov 2:38PM

  13. He's a sulking, cheating little @#$%, get rid and while were about it let's bring back good old honest football.

    From FREDDIE P, on Wed 26 Nov 2:35PM

  14. I'm a Chelsea fan, I have been all my life (I'm 28) and unlike a lot of you Chelsea 'fans' I was born in West London, and I would gladly see Drogba @#$% off and never come back.

    From RossG, on Wed 26 Nov 2:35PM

  15. adios drogba,get out now u loser

    From martinol6, on Wed 26 Nov 2:17PM

  16. princewill my point is drogba should not be an issue.if he wnt to go FINE....
    if his staying WELL OK FINE.But pls right now let play our match drogba is NOT chelsea and will NEVA i repeat NEVER be CHELSEA FOOTBALL CLUB.
    IGWE OF ARSENAL(HENRY)HE LEFT AND THEY MOVED ON,DAVID BECK LEFT MAN UTD,NOW RONALDO IS A MASTER BLASTER,SO CHELSEA CAN ALSO MOVE ONNNN.

    From Mustapha, on Wed 26 Nov 2:13PM

  17. Could we report on something that has substance. Same old BLAH BLAH BLAH!!! Same with City wanting to buy all of the Premier League. Who really gives a F##$!!! Someday reporters will actually get a life!! Peace, Love, and Chelsea.

    From kenya.lion, on Wed 26 Nov 2:02PM

  18. PRINCEWILL i feel you man,whateve is it this JACK guy is saying i dnt get.people say a lot of rubbish here ..talk like they need sone direction about the game of footbal and the mind games that revolve around it. well...what other clubs and fans are seeking out of this unfounded rumour nd all the GOSSIP springing fron every nook and cranny of the PRESS and diff club fans re to distablize CFC and bring in sone CONFUSION in the club. tell me which club u belong to nd i will unveil the the abnormalities going within ur club, why not take away what is on ur eyes b4 doing same to another person's eyes. Ronaldo, adebayor and many others asked out to different clubs during the transfar seasons. none of chelsea player has done so. drogba was only infuriated by the then depature of jose being somesome he sees like his mentor . However, he has since calmed down and declared his stance. why are these loosers after CFC . we are so united to be divided by gossip. prince chidi, chelsea fan , Austria. blues till i die with or without drogba or any other highly regarded individual in CFC
    mustyabdull stamford bridge chelsea till i die.

    From Mustapha, on Wed 26 Nov 2:01PM

  19. to all CFC fans. ignor these negative messanges that are posted here in the nanme of CFC fans. some enemies are representing themselves here as CFC fan thereby droping messages that will discourage or disorganize the fan .

    No real chelsea fan will come out openly here and ask drogba to leave or demand scolari should dispose drogba. the anti CFC are here or the rampage . beware of them and don't respond to their messages. read well from our CFC website b4 droping comments or concluding. thank u all.

    prince chidi .Austria. blues forever.

    From princey., on Wed 26 Nov 1:57PM

  20. Anelka has been the better striker this season and we have Di Santo who could go along way but i wouldn't want Drog to leave us just yet.

    From aaronvincent, on Wed 26 Nov 1:51PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account