Didier Drogba set to leave Chelsea

The 34-year-old Ivorian international joined Chelsea in 2004.

Didier Drogba has confirmed he plans to quit Chelsea following his Champions League final heroics, according to reports in France.
The striker has been quoted saying he informed his team-mates of his decision during the club's open-top bus parade yesterday after leading them to the greatest moment in their history on Saturday night.
Drogba, who has reportedly already agreed a deal to join Shanghai Shenhua when his Chelsea contract expires this summer, is said to have admitted he struggled to get the words out and burst into tears.
"We will no longer be together next season," the 34-year-old said in quotes attributed to France Football magazine.
"As I decided to leave, I wanted to tell them straight in the eye.
"Except that I could not do it. They made me crack.
"Even though it's been three years since I said I wanted to leave, I find it hard to admit that it's over with this club - especially as I did not feel like this.
"But I could not see myself sitting on the bench to watch others play when the club plans to set up a new team.
"So that's it - I am preparing for my leap into the unknown. It's going to be another adventure."
Drogba's departure would put a dampener on the jubilant Champions League celebrations of most of Chelsea's players and fans, who engaged in chants of, "Didier Drogba, we want you to stay", during yesterday's open-top bus parade.

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The Blues hierarchy had said they planned to sit down with the Ivory Coast star after Saturday's final in a bid to agree a contract extension.
Whether they still make an 11th-hour attempt to keep him in the wake of his reported quotes remains to be seen.
But it has been suggested that even if Drogba does perform a dramatic U-turn, Chelsea may need to pay Shanghai some sort of compensation, with the forward reportedly having already agreed a £250,000-a-week deal with the Chinese club.
The player has long been linked with a move to the far east after contract talks with the Blues broke down last year.
Drogba snubbed the offer of a one-year extension, while Chelsea refused to bow to his demands for a two-year deal.