Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba may soon be playing in the MLS after it was revealed that he has had several offers from the States for his services. The striker is currently playing for Turkish club Galatasaray after arriving only during the January transfer window. This follows an ill-fated six-month reign in Chinese football after the 35-year-old decided to move to Shanghai Shenhua following his departure from Chelsea. It was only a year ago that Drogba helped Chelsea win the Champions League almost single-handedly and it has not been forgotten.
The striker is still in demand throughout the world and this is reflected by the proposed $ 10 million annual salary given by one of the MLS clubs. This would easily surpassed the record held by David Beckham for the highest earning player. At his peak, Beckham earned around $ 6.5 million per year, while former Arsenal great Thierry Henry is currently on $ 5.5 million per year. Such salaries would be easily eclipsed by Drogba’s $ 10 million salary, although the striker is believed to be contemplating leaving Turkish football after just six months after arriving.
It is thought that Drogba still sees that he has a lot of high-level football left him after doing well with Galatasaray in the Champions League last season.
“We offered Didier Drogba, the great Chelsea player, over $10 million a year to play. It would have been the largest salary we ever had in Major League Soccer, and he signed (with Shanghai) for €18 million ($22.7 million) net,” said Don Garber, who is the MLS commissioner. “If I’m able to achieve my objectives at the end of my contract with Shanghai Shenhua in 2014, I’d love to attempt another adventure, maybe in the United States,” said Drogba in an interview a few months ago.