20 July 2023 , 13:01
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Few signings can claim to have been more influential for their respective clubs like Didier Drogba can.
The Ivorian signed for Chelsea on this day in 2004 and went on to help guide the Blues to an astonishing four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, two community shields and of course, the Champions League in 2012. However, things could have been very different had then-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho not put his foot down with then-owner Roman Abramovich.
It is believed that Mourinho had made clear Drogba, then of Marseille, was his number one target in the summer transfer window of 2004. Abramovich was stalling, which prompted the self-proclaimed 'special one' to bark back: "Pay, and don't speak."
History shows it was a good thing that he did, as Drogba went on to be a thorn in the side of so many of Chelsea's Premier League rivals down the years - including Manchester United, one of his admirers, though you wouldn't have guessed it from Sir Alex Ferguson's comments on the striker.
Back when United and Chelsea were battling it out for the title, the United boss admitted: "I kept saying to people, `Will somebody please shoot Drogba!'
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He added: "His performances were unbelievable. He carried their team, I thought, and he kept getting these incredible goals."
What was even more infuriating for the Scotsman was that United had actually also kept tabs on the Ivory Coast international before he made the move to Chelsea. Had Mourinho not made his demand to Abramovich, Drogba could have donning the red of United.
Jose Mourinho and Didier Drogba enjoyd a stellar relationship at ChelseaMirror Football is now on Threads! You can follow us here.
"I remember us watching Drogba," Ferguson admitted. "The price was about £24m. That was a lot at the time. He had only had one season in Marseille.
"But they took the risk and paid for him. He is a powerful lad, a massive physique. He has strength and plays every game. You look around the world and ask yourself where the strikers are? There are not a lot of them around."
Drogba enjoyed some notable moments against United, including bagging the winner in the 2007 FA Cup final and a crucial strike at Old Trafford in the race for the league title in 2010, though that certainly angered Ferguson given that one was offside.
Mourinho insists Drogba is Chelsea's best value for money signingUnited's loss was Chelsea's gain and then some, as Mourinho made clear with a glowing tribute to Drogba back in 2015.
"In my first written report to Mr. Abramovich in relation to my plans for the club, I gave the names of some players," he explained.
"Big names were arriving at Chelsea in that period. The previous summer, for example, Claude Makelele came from Real Madrid and Hernan Crespo came from Inter, among others, but Didier was unknown and the price was very, very high.
"Yet I knew as clearly as I have ever done that he was the player I wanted. I was very strong to persuade my club to pay such an amount for him and I think we can already say he was the best-value signing for Chelsea in relation to what he has done for the club over so many years, and he is not finished yet."
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Drogba did eventually finish, leaving Chelsea for good after a second spell at the club in 2015 before calling time on his playing career altogether in 2018 aged 40.