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After eight years playing for Chelsea, Ivory Coast native Didier Drogba announced this week that he will be leaving West London “for a great leap into the unknown.”
“I wanted to put an end to all the speculation and confirm that I am leaving Chelsea” the 34-year-old striker told the club’s website. “It has been a very difficult decision for me to make and I am very proud of what we have achieved but the time is right for a new challenge for me.”
During Saturday’s Champions League final, Drogba scored a dramatic, game-tying goal late in the period and scored a crucial penalty kick in the shootout, helping Chelsea clench its first Champions League title.
Drogba has made it known that he believes Fernando Torres is “the future” of Chelsea and will adequately fill the void he is leaving on the team. Drogba has yet to make any announcement regarding where he will play in the future, but rumors point to China, where it is believed he would join former Chelsea teammate Nicolas Anelka at Shanghai Shenhua.
“As of now, Shenhua’s negotiations with Drogba are continuing just as planned,” said the team owner Zhu Jun.
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