Drogba odds on to head to China

May 23, 2012
By: Deke Hardman

What a way to bow out. With as cool a penalty as you will ever see, Didier Drogba’s final kick as a Chelsea player clinched the elusive Champions League trophy in Saturday’s thrilling final against Bayern Munich.

The Ivory Coast striker also set the ball rolling in Chelsea’s 2-1 FA Cup final victory over Liverpool earlier in the month, maintaining his astonishing s record of scoring in all of his eight visits to Wembley.

In his eight years at Stamford Bridge, Drogba had won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups and a League Cup before capping it off with Europe’s top prize in Munich.

Now 34 – and out of contract – he has the opportunity of one final big contract. Many clubs are interested in the man who averaged a goal almost every other game in almost 350 club appearances for Chelsea, though it seems almost certain where his destination will be.

Chinese side Shanghai Sheenhua are confident of agreeing a deal for the striker, after signing Drogba’s former teammate Nicolas Anelka at the beginning of the year.

Anelka, who is now part of the coaching staff at Sheenhua, would surely relish linking up with Drogba once again, and with the riches at chairman Zhu Jun’s disposal, a deal could well be agreed sooner rather than later.

Bet Victor are offering a price of 1.36 (4/11) that Drogba’s next port of call will be Shanghai, so if you’re looking for value you may want to take a punt on one of the other clubs involved in the mix.

Before Jose Mourinho signed him in 2004, Drogba had enjoyed success in France, not least his season with Olympique de Mariselle, where he won the Player of the Year award.

Paris St German are currently the big players in France’s top division, and with former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti in charge, the Ligue 1 runners up could well put an offer on the table. With this in mind you might be tempted to take advantage of the 9.0 (8/1) offered by Bet Victor for Drogba to choose the French capital over China.

Other teams in the frame are Chinese Super League winners Guangzhou Evergrande and Spanish champions Real Madrid, where Mourinho has just signed a new contract. Both are priced at 11.0 (10/1).

Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala, Barcelona, Malaga and a host of Serie A clubs are also said to be interested.

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