Didier Drogba may have set his sights on a last bow at former club Olympique Marseille, but fans of the Ligue 1 side vehemently rejected his potential comeback. Club bosses were said to be at odds with the striking legend's exorbitant wage demands.
The 38-year old, who spent eight trophy-laden years in his highly-successful spell at Chelsea prior to his six-month stay in Shanghai Shenhua in 2012, is reportedly unwilling to take a pay cut from his next club. He departed from Major League Soccer side Montreal Impact after his contract expired, ESPN reported.
Drogba publicly expressed his desire to return to OM - the club where Chelsea prised him for his goalscoring instinct. However, as reports that he's not willing to settle for a smaller salary emerge despite his age have emerged, the club's fans made their displeasure known.
Per Fox Sports, OM fans unfurled a banner during a game against Monaco blasting Drogba, which read: "Drogba, stop saying that you love OM. You make more than a month than we in our lifetime. Stop being a crybaby and go back to China." His interview with French channel Canal+ may have stoked their fury.
Despite Drogba's solitary season in OM, the striker seems to have sentimental reasons of his own that's making a potential return to the club his "eternal question for more than 12 years now," said Sky Sports. Nonetheless, he strongly hinted that a pay cut is not in the cards, saying "Who works to earn less?"
LA Dodgers owner Frank McCourt brought OM in October last year - one that may have encouraged Drogba to push through with a move back to France. But even manager Rudi Garcia himself downplayed such a possibility - one that would possible encourage the striker to test the waters in China once more.