Drogba Inter Meeting in Restaurant
DIDIER DROGBA
By dixon9
November 25 2008
Yep! Here we go again! Italian sports newspaper, Gazzetta Dello Sport claims that Didier Drogba has met José Mourinho´s agent, Jorge Mendes and the General Manager of Inter, Marco Branca. The meeting is alleged to have taken place in a Fulham restaurant on Monday night.
Mourinho made no move for Drogba in the summer. Some say that this is because the player was carrying a knee injury but the fact that Milan asked for permission to speak to him puts that theory in doubt. Inter currently have around 8 strikers including Ibramovich and the recently back in favour Adriano.
Drogba leaving rumours have been pretty much constant since the Ivorian´s arrival at Stamford Bridge and have been a constant source of frustration and anger for Chelsea fans.
It is also fair to say that versions of the media and the player himself over the seasons have so often been in conflict or ambiguous serving to add to the confusion over what we should deduce.
‘Even if I went, I didn’t know if I would find what I have here. I am not the kind of person who is scared of a new challenge, that is why I was saying that. But I don’t need to move.’
Drogba has and should still be a phenomenal player for us but this constant speculation over his future detracts from what could be cult status in the eyes of the Stamford Bridge faithful.
Nevertheless, our Ivorian hitman supposedly put all the rumours to bed in the summer:
‘I would love to go on until the end of my contract here which is two years,’
‘It’s because of the relationship I have created with the player and the staff. And now with Luiz Felipe Scolari coming in, he is talking to the players. I like the way he is dealing with the players, that is important.
‘You have to understand that I was saying I wanted to move but Chelsea always showed me respect, saying that they wanted me to stay because I was one of their best players. That gave me confidence. I am really happy here.
‘It is the first season I have wanted to stay. I have changed, of course. And I am really happy I have changed.
Drogba has been recently recovering from a knee injury and is now almost at full fitness. Scolari wanted to bring him back gradually and with the recent 3 match league suspension Drogba will only play a couple of Champions League games before the league game against West Ham in December.
“The injury is feeling good. The first few hours I was really frustrated. But when I knew the cruciate ligaments were safe and okay and that it was just a big twist of the knee and ankle, I was really happy and the frustration was gone.’
There can also be no doubting his enthusiasm. He has recently said look forward to be playing with Anelka up front.
‘I would love to do that. I know what Nico can bring to the game. I know what we can do together. Last year every time we had the chance to play together, even if it was 10, 15, or 20 minutes, we did well and scored goals against Arsenal and Liverpool.’
Malouda also spoke of Drogba´s determination to make an impact when he returns.
“It will be a good thing for us because with what is happening now, I think he will be angry and show he has things to do for the team.
“Didier is the type of player who can find a solution when you play these teams but as you can see Nicolas Anelka is doing well at the moment.
Mourinho said that he had no knowledge of any meeting:
"I don't know if the meeting took place between my agent and Drogba,"
"All I know is that I was with my assistant Rui Faria and our families having dinner in Cernobbio [near Como]. I am not sure of Drogba's future but I know that Drogba is part of Chelsea's history and the last time I read something in an English newspaper, there was talk of him staying there."
So what do we make of all this? Who knows! Drogba´s agent isn’t supposed to be the most trustworthy in the business as he was recently been the subject of a French judicial inquiry over his earnings – could the agent be trying to earn one last pay day? How reliable is the information from Gazzetta dello Sport? Who did they get it from and how come no UK national papers picked up on the story first? Or if the story is true is Mourinho looking to sign Drogba after his contract finishes at the end of next season? Or was there no meeting at all? If so then Drogba would hopefully deny it very soon.
Time will tell.
Don't Gamble, Bet Risk Free
Quote:Since 66
I hope he didn't have too much of a late night - he had to be at Cobham at 8.30am this morning to leave for Bordeauz at 8.45am.
Very good point Holmes!
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
Quote:flying claret
bet he dint leave a quid tip
Anyway, given the amount you lot threw at him it should have been much more! ;-)
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
Chelsea were refusing to become embroiled in yet more controversy over their Ivory Coast forward after it was alleged that Inter Milan's sporting director Marco Branca had met Drogba in a Fulham restaurant on Monday night. Reports also suggested that Inter coach and former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho's agent, Jorge Mendes, and the player's representative were also present at the dinner meeting.
Although Mourinho later claimed to know nothing about the alleged meeting, Luiz Felipe Scolari, the current Chelsea coach, was clearly on edge when asked if Drogba had met Branca.
"I do not sleep with him Drogba," said Scolari. "Where he was last night? I don't know. I am not a policeman for my players."
But when the Brazilian was asked to clarify if Drogba had been given permission to be in the company of Branca, Scolari's tone worsened. "Ask Peter Kenyon the Chelsea chief executive, ask Roman Abramovich, I don't know, I am only the coach."
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
And as I always say - if a player wants to go - let him go.
God knows how times I have said it about Drogba.
Seems the deal is we get Adriano and £30m
Don't Gamble, Bet Risk Free
right about the Adriano swap, Scolari certainly doesnt believe that Drogba (or any other player) could leave without his say so. A quote missed out in a lot of papers from the press conference yesterday:
"I think what I say one month ago. It's December, then it's Christmas and Christmas is for agents. They open their mouths for the world ... I want this, the team wants that. Now is the month. Now maybe 15 players from Chelsea [go] outside and 15 come. If you ask me if I say any name, I say no."
And I cant imagine the club upsetting Scolari by going over his head on something that he is supposed to have authority over.
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
I´ve decided that it´s all rollocks!
And...
That Drogba will play a blinder tonight!
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
Where´s the karma? Please explain.
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
im thinking,,,northampton town,is were i live near,and might go histon at weekendDon't Gamble, Bet Risk Free
i dont understand,,,inter have 8 strikers and your owner playing for them,,,,its a mad football world pal
Quote:flying claret
would love to have gone,,,my man flu playing up big time,i was ok yesterday morning,,,going bed soon,,proper bad again
i dont understand,,,inter have 8 strikers and your owner playing for them,,,,its a mad football world pal
Histon sold out - watch it on the telly
and wot u waffling on about man
"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
bloody forieners,,,,foriners,,,,people from abroad,,,my heads gone night
Quote:thanks a buch for reminding me its W/A on sundaySince 66Quote:flying claret
would love to have gone,,,my man flu playing up big time,i was ok yesterday morning,,,going bed soon,,proper bad again
i dont understand,,,inter have 8 strikers and your owner playing for them,,,,its a mad football world pal
Histon sold out - watch it on the telly
and wot u waffling on about man
thank god its sold out
as well as your Wedding Anniversary
too late to change your mind now Mrs S. you r lumbered with him... poor love
Don't Gamble, Bet Risk Free
Actually, Moratti denies it too.
Interesting the spin on Drogba´s comments last night:
"No comment on the supposed meeting"
The media say refuse to deny - I would read "supposed" means that there was no meeting....
yeah but no but yeah...
In any case, Drogba is CL tied and I can´t see them stumping up for his wages in the summer at his age.
I´ll be happy to keep his services until 2010 when his contract is up (and I reckon that´s what will happen).
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.