Didier Drogba’s departure from the Montreal Impact is looking more and more likely, but Major League Soccer isn’t about to let the Ivorian superstar go away without a fight.
A fresh report from the UK Telegraph claims MLS is not budging in talks with Chelsea to get him out of his contract with Montreal, which has one year remaining.
The negotiations to terminate Drogba’s Impact contract appear to be a bit of a formality, since it appears Chelsea only wants Drogba to join the Blues as a coach, but reaching an agreement with MLS to terminate his contract would leave the door open for Drogba to return as a Chelsea player if he and the team decided to have him play.
Drogba could make the impasse a moot point by retiring as a player, but it appears he and Chelsea are hoping to avoid having to do that.
Drogba enjoyed an outstanding stint with Montreal, helping lead the Impact to the 2015 playoffs after scoring an incredible 11 goals in 11 regular season matches.
Losing Drogba would be a crushing blow to a Montreal side that earned an impressive amount of buzz and momentum from his arrival, and a deal with Chelsea could help the Impact pay for a replacement, though finding one anywhere as impressive as Drogba would be extremely difficult.
What do you think of this situation? Think MLS should just let him go, or think the league is doing the right think forcing Chelsea to pay to let Drogba out of his contract? Who would you like to see Montreal sign as a replacement for Drogba?
Share your thoughts below.
What’s to stop Drogba from retiring and then un-retiring a few months later in order to get out of his contract?
FIFA rules one would imagine, if that were possible any player could do it at any time to be free of a contract, probably some kind of no compete clause when you retire with an active contract
Ah okay, yeah that would make sense. Though I wonder if there would be a time limit if there is some sort of rule. Maybe he wouldn’t be able to compete during the current season, but for the next one.
News flash to MLS – in the future, when signing a big name, sign them to a “Personal Services” contract. That way, he could never retire and go to Chelsea without compensation.
Milk Abromovich for as much as you can get out of them!!!! It’s not like they need the money…
I have no issue with this. Either retire and just coach or buy out the contract if you want to coach with the option to play. Make him and Chelsea put on their big boy pants and respect you as an organization.
If indeed Abromovich or someone in Chelsea’s front office, contacted Drogba , to talk about his future, WITHOUT getting permission from the MLS or Montreal then its a tort, or “tortuous interference” of a contract which is looked down upon by FIFA and the CAS as well as local and federal courts. Damages can be calculated to 2-3x or more of the value of the contract. Although I’m sure the MLS will want to work this out with Chelsea, but the MLS and Montreal can enjoin Drogba from coaching, playing or even taking a piss at Stamford Bridge until an agreement for compensation is worked out.
While the MLS and Montreal may have conceded that Drogba will not play in the MLS again, they will get a payday and it should be big enough to make sure this will not happen again.
Camilo just pissed all over your theory.
Its “tortious” interference. while it might be tortuous to debate, the word has an “i” in it. Autocorrect is in error – this is a pet peeve of mine
You are correct! I spelled it right the first time and the spell checker changes it, and I didn’t catch it.
At the very least, if Chelsea contacted Drogba about coming back to Chelsea in any way, before they got permission from the MLS or Montreal, it is, at least, a tortious inducement and a possible tortious interference with a contract. The fact that Guus Hiddink pontificates over the position Drogba would take means that there were discussions within the organization prior to the offer which means it was done willingly.
I have my concerns though that the way it’s being handled by Chelsea in that they appear not to be worried and that they “may’ have covered their ass with a phone call or email to the MLS or Montreal that has not been made public. Of course, we have not been made aware if this type of communication has occurred, leading to the credence that the MLS has Chelsea by the short and curlies, leasing them to play “hardball” with one of the richest football clubs on the planet.
“but reaching an agreement with MLS to terminate his contract would leave the door open for Drogba to return as a Chelsea player if he and the team decided to have him play.”
…as I’ve said all along to the “but he’s *just* retiring” posts. Anyone who believes he and Chelsea want him to simply coach and not be a player-coach type role is naive.
Nice to see some adults in MLS know better and are acting within their contractual power.
Sidenote: I’ve read on other websites speculation of Falcao to MLS as some sort of reclamation project.
That would be an interesting bargaining element considering Falcao is current property of Chelsea with no real significant impact (no pun intended) on the pitch for the Blues and rumors of his inevitably sale in the January window. Maybe we see a Drogba for Falcao swap (with cash thrown in)?
A 29 year old striker with Falcao’s resume would be interesting for MLS. Even acknowledging he’s been a shell of himself since the injury – I’d personally pull the trigger. At worst, you received a player that never recovers, mentally or physically, in Falcao for a player who may have simply “retired”. At best, Falcao rediscovers his form and sets MLS on fire.
I haven’t seen this speculated. This is my own conspiracy theory.
Falcao is on loan from Monaco at Chelsea
Yea, Falcao’s contractual status is interesting to keep track of. It seems Monaco are just happy to have him off the books knowing they can’t retain anything near the value they spent. I remember reading they received players in return for his loan deal with Chelsea, but I had assumed it was permanent then.
Another odd element to consider in this equation is I believe he’s owned by some 3rd party ownership group, too.
I am concerned about Falcao’s “attitude”. The MLS is still a young league, and we American fans are pretty fickle. I would not want a forward who can’t stick with a team and who may have a bad attitude. I am also against bringing in Ballotelli for the same reason.
Since when is conceding defeat “it’s out of our hands” hardball? Not the best negotiating strategy. This is cotton ball.
Impact should ask for nominal fee and broker relationship that sees 2/3 developing Chelsea players join them on loan each season as well as annual Chelsea friendly for charity…everyone wins. Be smart about this!
Why would a developing player want to come to MLS? Because use its stellar reputation as a world class young player destination? Talk about sabotaging your career.
2016 is a few days old and the whiners are out in full force.
Did it sabatage the career of Drogba?
No
Montreal still wants him
And Chelsea too
I realize you have an agenda to whine about MLS, but think before you post.
Why does Drogba want to coach a future Championship side?
Lol
Chelsea need to pay. Duh.
He signed a contract. They should get as much money as possible if Chelsea want him to have his contract voided, Then let Montreal go out and get another good striker for decent money.