The shock of Samuel Eto’o’s move to Russia in 2011 has still not died down. I’m sure the money is great, but is there really a need to be exiled away from the greater spotlight of European football? Didier Drogba is no different, and it’s hard to believe that a player who could still offer so much in Europe is gone for good. Right now, I’m not buying it.
It started earlier this year with Nicolas Anelka voicing his displeasure at his new club in China. While I’m not entirely sure what there is to be disappointed about, maybe Anelka has started to partially regret his move.
It’s more than unlikely that any club from one of the major European leagues would pay Anelka the wages he’s on in China. Nor do I believe any club would be so open to allow him to run the team from a player’s position. But is the added weight of the pay packet really worth leaving the hot bed of football altogether?
Didier Drogba, despite his age, could still have offered a lot to a big club in European football. In fact, I was drawn to the last-minute stories linking him with Barcelona; the club needed a “back-up” forward and Drogba needed a new club. It made sense in as much that it would allow Drogba the chance to add further relevant trophies to his haul collected during his time with Chelsea.
Again, the money in China is great, and like Eto’o, the financial cushion is certainly going to allow Drogba to forget that he’s practically wiped his name off the radar in major football conversation. The MLS may be slightly different, and it would have at least made a little more sense for the player to move to America to continue his career. The sport over there is growing and players like David Beckham and Thierry Henry have done a lot to increase the coverage.
Like in Russia, there is a project at Drogba’s new club in China, where they are obviously trying to build the reputation of a recently-formed side with attractive names from Europe. It’s working, and there are few better places to kick-start the process than by landing a couple of veterans from Chelsea. Drogba also seems intent to draw his former team-mates into the idea of moving to China, although I don’t see much give coming from players like Frank Lampard or John Terry.
Maybe it’s just something we’re not accustomed to, and there was certainly a degree of surprise when we saw Beckham and Henry move to America. These leagues scattered around the world may eventually build up a reputation as the quiet retreats many of Europe’s older players might want. They’ve certainly got a lot more to give the game in Europe, but little motivation for much more and the inflated wages may be enough of an incentive.
I still think there is more to come from Drogba in Europe. Maybe not at Barcelona or even AC Milan, but perhaps a move back to Marseille and a real retirement from the game.
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