Didier Drogba would become a Chelsea legend after his move from Marseille in 2004, but Jose Mourinho unveiled how he had to convince Roman Abramovich bravely to sign him
Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho once told courageous ex-club owner Roman Abramovich to just pay “and not to be satisfied” for blues legend Didier Drogba. Chelsea signed the Ivorian from Marseille for £ 24 million in July 2004 and ended with a Stamford Bridge hero.
With the financial revolution of Abramovich in Chelsea who at the time collected, Mourinho instructed his employer that he should have the powerful striker in his ranks. And he had no time for the Russian questions, and risked his status with the billionaire.
“[Roman] Abramovich asked me: “Who do you want for the rush?” All big names in Europe at the time, I told 'Drogba', '' Mourinho passed on. “(Abramovich asked)” Who is he? Where does he play? Where does he play? “(I answered)” Mr Abramovich, Pay. Do not pay and speak '. And Didier was an iconic player for Chelsea, for the Premier League. “
True to the insistence of Mourinho, Drogba immediately illustrated his extraordinary talent by performing 16 goals despite fighting injuries in his inaugural season. He won the Premier League three times, four FA Cups and the Champions League in his first Stint in the club.
The Ivorian icon eventually moved to Shanghai Shenhua after eight seasons, but he didn't last long in the Chinese Super League. He quickly headed for European football with Galatasaray, reports Voetbal London.
'I played [against] it [Drogba] When I was in Madrid and he was at [Wesley] Sneijder in Galatasaray – they almost killed me, but they didn't do that and he was fantastic for Galatasaray, “Mourinho added.
“Then he came back to Chelsea and I said to him: 'You are no longer number one, but I need you here to help me with the team, with the more experienced players, with the [Eden] Dangers, with the Willians, with the young boys'. He was phenomenal again. There are players with their character and personality, and they are important from the first day in their career. “
In an interview with BBC Football Focus in 2018, Drogba revealed that the admiration of Mourinho had been answered. “He changed my life, he changed my family's story,” said Drogba.
“He told me that if you want to be the best, you have to come and play with one of the best teams in the world and one of the best managers in the world … No, the best manager in the world. Everyone said that £ 24 million was a lot of money. People doubted. When I left, I think the way everyone responded, I think I treated the investment.”
In two spells with Chelsea, Drogba, now 47, scored an incredible 164 goals in 381 games. His legend is cemented with the Ivory Coast star who also wins the Premier League Golden Boot in 2006/07 and 2009/10.
After his second enchantment in West -London, he closed his career with MLS sides Montreal Impact and then with Phoenix Rising in 2018.