The MLS offseason is almost over, but these crazy rumors just keep flying around.
With former Chelsea legend Didier Drogba set to line up against his former club on Wednesday whilst playing for Galatasaray, rumors are rife that he could be on his way to Major League Soccer.
Such stories have existed for quite some time, and with the 35-year-old striker out of contract in the summer, many expect him to make one last move before the Ivorian superstar retired.
According to this report from British tabloid the Daily Star, New York Red Bulls striker Thierry Henry wants to bring Drogba to MLS this season. With New York having one Designated Player slot open, is this possible?
But hold on a minute.
The same reports suggests the Seattle Sounders are also lining up to get some of the ‘Drog’ as some of MLS’ biggest franchises fancy getting some of his brute force and lethal finishing. But the Sounders already have three DPs in Obafemi Martins, Clint Dempsey and Osvaldo Alonso, so does that mean one of those guys are on the way out? If you had to guess someone is on the move, you’d go with Martins. Meanwhile Drogba is also attracting interest from his ex-club Chelsea, as he’s still a hero at Stamford Bridge and it is thought owner Roman Abramovich and manager Jose Mourinho would love to bring the towering striker in as a ‘forward’s coach’ for next season.
(MORE: “Drogba to MLS” chatter gains momentum)
Whatever he decides to do, there’s no doubt about it, Drogba would tear it up in MLS. Just like any league he has gone to in his illustrious career. After leaving Chelsea in 2012, when he scored the winning penalty kick in the UEFA Champions League final, Drogba has been all over the place. First he went to China, to play for the extremely wealthy Shanghai Shenhua side alongside former Chelsea star Nicholas Anelka. But that all went a bit pear shaped and Drogba returned to Europe on the hunt for a club and landed at Turkish giant Galatasaray, who he has now helped reach the Champions League knockout stages.
With one final move in the cards for the goalscoring machine, could we see the famous ‘wide arm pump’ celebration in MLS later this season?
Drogba has a World Cup date to attend with the Ivory Coast this summer, in what should be his swansong for the Elephants. But is this legendary striker set for one last fleeting flight in MLS before he calls it quits?
Perhaps this is just another tabloid rumor. Regardless, it will be interesting to see where Didier ends up this summer.