In 2004, after only one season at OM, Didier Drogba joined José Mourinho‘s powerful Chelsea. As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the departure of the Ivorian international, his former teammate at Marseille, Fabien Laurenti, spoke of this departure, quite logical according to him, and this record transfer at the time.
Qualified for the group stage of Champions League during the 2003/2004 season, theABOUT found on his journey a very young coach who, did not yet know it, would lift his first big-eared cup a few months later, a certain José Mourinho. So at Portothe Portuguese technician took advantage of this duel to observe the performances of a star in the making: Didier Drogba.
Messi sends an OM player to Barcelona! https://t.co/pGCwUcgqpy pic.twitter.com/TWW49t0v9A
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Mourinho spotted Drogba
“During a match against FC Porto where Drogba also scored, there was defender Ricardo Carvalho who went to see Mourinho, impressed. So on the way to the pitch during half-time, Mourinho grabs Drogba and tells him: “One day you will play in a much better team with me”. And in June, they meet at Chelsea » confided Romain Canuti. The choice of reason as explained Christophe Bouchet, then president of theABOUT. It must be said that the Blues had pulled out all the stops to attract Drogba (33M€).
“We had a hard time believing it”
Member of theABOUT during this famous season, Fabien Laurenti returned to this operation on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of his departure from Marseille. It took time for the Marseille locker room to digest the news. “We found it hard to believe it, but the realities of football are catching up with Drogba and OM. And when an offer of €33M arrives, OM cannot refuse it. Didier leaves. As supporters, it’s a shame. But for him, for his career, it served him. He already had the level to play at Chelsea » he confided on the set of BFM Marseille. Thus ended the short passage of Drogba at theABOUT.
