Drogba to retire and return to Chelsea

According to L’Equipe, Didier Drogba will retire from playing and will step into the coaching circle with former club Chelsea, but the player took to Twitter on Tuesday to deny the reports.

Drogba watched Chelsea’s victory over Sunderland in December – the club’s first game after Mourinho’s exit – alongside Hiddink and club owner Roman Abramovich.

Drogba reportedly has a year to run on his contract with the Canadians, who would be reluctant to let their talisman leave.

While it’s hardly proof that Drogba intends to return to the Montreal Impact as a player, there’s at least a shred of hope.

“Lovely to receive these messages but I have not yet announced my retirement & am still in discussion with @impactmontreal about my future”, the 37-year-old Ivory Coast striker tweeted.

Could Didier Drogba’s time with the Montreal Impact already be at an end?

The Ivorian has been repeatedly linked with a coaching role at Chelsea since Jose Mourinho left the club and was replaced by Hiddink on an interim basis.

MLS sources have also told ESPN FC that they have yet to be informed of Drogba’s reported retirement either.

“I worked with him five or six years ago and I was delighted to have such a professional in the squad”, Hiddink said at the time.

Hiddink admitted afterwards that he was keen to work with the striker, who scored 164 goals in 381 appearances, but added: “It depends on the player himself, you need to give them time and opportunities to find out what the best is for them”.

“If he comes back as a coach it will be a great addition to all the team”.