Reports in Turkey claim former Galatasaray striker Didier Drogba played a key role in convincing former Swansea striker Bafatimbi Gomis to join the club. A large crowd was at the Istanbul Ataturk airport to welcome him to the country and the club ahead of the completion of the move.
“It was my friend Drogba who told me about Galatasaray. He convinced me to leave Swansea and let me know that Galatasaray are the biggest team in Turkey. My friend Chedjou also said similar things,” the player was credited to have said this upon arrival.
The two-time Chelsea striker is a Premier League hero. He is one of the African biggest stars to have featured in European football. Drogba spent a short time in Turkey but he has cult followership there. During his brief stint in Turkey, the Ivorian won the Turkish Cup, the Turkish Super Cup and the Turkish Super Lig. He scored 20 goals and had 13 assists in 53 games. The Champions League winner has played in France, England, Turkey, China, and America. He is currently a player and owner in the United States lower division league the USL.
Gomis, 31, will earn £2.6 million per year after agreeing a three year deal. After his impresive return while on loan at Marseille, where he scored 21 goals in 34 games, the player was set to leave the Swans sooner or later. The Istanbul-based outfit will pay Swansea £2.2 million, while they hope he contributes to their European dream.
Career-wise Gomis has scored 188 times and provided 45 assists in 522 games in all competitions. On the international scene, he has featured 12 times for France, scoring three times.
Meanwhile another quality striker is expected to be on the move very soon – possibly to fill Didier’s boots at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea keen on wrapping up the deal for Spain international Alvaro Morata. The deal would cost the Blues at least £60 million even though the player’s current employer Real Madrid want way more. The latest odds on the move at netbet.co.uk suggest that they are the clear favourites, and the deal WILL be done before the transfer window slams shut.
Antonio Conte is focused on getting the player after missing out on Romelu Lukaku, who opted to join Manhester United now that they are back in the Champions League on the back of Europa League success.
Morata has spent the bulk of his years in Spain. His two year stint at Juventus was very successful and it showed the extent of his talent. The 24-year old is highly prized in Europe but the move to STamford Bridge would offer a different challenge.
Morata scored 15 goals in 26 games in the league last term even though only 14 were starts. During his stay in Juve, he scored 15 goals in two years but contributed to the team’s overall success to earn the admiration of the fans. The number might not be very impressive but at Chelsea, where top wingers are planned, the player is expected to net more goals. He has played in competitive teams all his life from the Spanish youth level to the international scene and Madrid’s senior side.
Morata is a decent option for Conte but the £75 million Real demands is big – it remains to be seen whether Lukaku or Morata represented the best value deal.