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 2 - 21 of 61

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  1. Drogba we dnt need in chelsea,drogba is a confusionist,scholari you can do better pls pple what wrong with ya all,not the eve of our champions league match,drogba will now become another issue.pls send him as a christmas gift to mourinho and inter,we dont need the ivorian.he cant be chelsea,chelsea will tag along FINE.
    Give us a better news to read.
    mustyabdull.

    From Mustapha, on Wed 26 Nov 1:47PM

  2. Drogba we dnt need in chelsea,drogba is a confusionist,scholari you can do better pls pple what wrong with ya all,not the eve of our champions league match,drogba will now become another issue.pls send him as a christmas gift to mourinho and inter,we dont need the ivorian.he cant be chelsea,chelsea will tag along FINE.
    Give us a better news to read.

    From Mustapha, on Wed 26 Nov 1:46PM

  3. I think its a bit of a shame that one of Chelsea's best ever strikers is so unmissed and so unappreciated not only by the team but by the fans. I think it will be a bit of a shame for him to go, but that will give other less well off financialy teams a bit more leway. If the Chelsea fans would remember their crisis such as threat of bankrupcy and in a the 2nd division but I think that money is doing not only damage to the league but also to real fans!

    From jack, on Wed 26 Nov 1:42PM

  4. 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 media 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.

    From princey., on Wed 26 Nov 1:36PM

  5. 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 media 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.

    From princey., on Wed 26 Nov 1:36PM

  6. leaving?? yes you can...we are sick of your little baby behaviour.

    chelsea all the way

    From belly k, on Wed 26 Nov 1:16PM

  7. no love lost; no regrets; no apologies;Drogba is a sell out and what he is up to is a slap in the face to his & Chelsea fans. what mo can we say Mr. drogba? sour grapes? hellnaw..sail on good, riddance; nyce time

    From VINCE, on Wed 26 Nov 1:15PM

  8. Drogba did eaxactlyu the same thing during the summer with Ac Milan so this shouldn't come as a big surprise!He's a mercenary who will play for whoever gives him the most money!I'm not a fan of Chelsea but i feel sorry for them in this situation as yyou would think Drogba would show some loyalty to the club that made him what he is!

    From MichealS, on Wed 26 Nov 1:03PM

  9. I think the DROGBA exit drama is something nobody should be interested in any longer. Chelsea is doing very well without him, so he is not in anyway indispensable. Let him go if that is what he wants.

    From onyeka, on Wed 26 Nov 12:26PM

  10. drogba has been very subdued this season. I think he will be somewhat embarrassed over his close season behaviour, claiming that every team in the world wanted him but no-one did! He still got his diving act together though but the wide eyed open-mouthed appeals to the ref have almost gone. He's probably sussed the fact that everyone, refs inc, now regard him as a prima donna.
    I hope he does go to IM, he and Mourhino are made for each other - 2 prima donnas together.

    From Ray S, on Wed 26 Nov 12:08PM

  11. The guy na controversal guy

    From n_aroloye, on Wed 26 Nov 11:43AM

  12. hahaha... good... gol for Chelsea not for money

    From et3925, on Wed 26 Nov 11:26AM

  13. I hate the no comment thing, it basically means the player is enjoying the attention.

    I'll allow him toleave if adriano is involved

    From yip, on Wed 26 Nov 11:09AM

  14. Oh God here we go again. Gossip Shop fodder. He lies like a hairy egg. Drogba leave please even Chelsea are sick of you

    From not printable, on Wed 26 Nov 11:09AM

  15. its media.one day it says that Drogba said that he goes to inter other day it says he is commited to CFC.he will stay.Chelsea is better than inter for Drogba

    From yagmurdan_sonra, on Wed 26 Nov 10:57AM

  16. I am an open-mineded single girl who love sports. I want to end my single life by meeting
    a guy who likes sports too. Let's mingle at the club ___ kISs M ill iona ireS Co m __

    From sexyhotdaaa34, on Wed 26 Nov 10:46AM

  17. interesting stuff...ibrahimovic and drogba in attack...damn that would be awesome...chelski should start looking for a partner with their top scorer and columnist anelka...having said that with big phil as manager, i dont think they will really struggle bsides they've done fantastically well without the big ivorian upfront...

    From salim_risen, on Wed 26 Nov 10:42AM

  18. Drogba should either stop the games or move on. No comment on whether he met with Inter is like a guilty verdict.
    Be honest and hell get what he really wants which is to work with Jose again. Chelsea can then move on and look for a real and permanent replacement. Anelka is doing well now but on his own is not enough to carry the ambitions of CFC.

    From george, on Wed 26 Nov 10:28AM

  19. Would be funny if Drogba went to Inter and then Mourinho went to Man City and left him again, Drogba would be in tears, haha!

    From john m, on Wed 26 Nov 10:24AM

  20. sport1 and bbc sport are BAD

    From mo, on Wed 26 Nov 10:03AM
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