Didier Drogba has confirmed that he will not be returning to Montreal Impact for the 2017 Major League Soccer season. Speculation is now rife that it could result in a return to former club Chelsea in a coaching capacity as he maintains a close relationship with Roman Abramovich.
The Ivorian legend revealed his decision to walk away following the first leg of Tuesday night's MLS Cup Eastern Conference final against Toronto FC, potentially his last home game for the club he joined from Chelsea in the summer of 2015.
Merci Didier #IMFC pic.twitter.com/pKJHlEOLc3
Montreal released a video with the caption 'Merci Didier' via their official Twitter account soon after the game against their Canadian rivals was over. Later, Drogba told reporters he will be leaving the franchise at the end of the current campaign.
Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Robbie Keane are among other famous veterans to have called time on their MLS careers this year.
The 38-year-old Drogba, who was at the centre of controversy earlier this season when he refused to be named on the bench for Impact after being left out of the starting line-up, appeared as a substitute against Toronto for his first appearance since October.
Impact hold a 3-2 aggregate lead ahead of the second leg of the eastern final to be played in Toronto at the end of the month. The winner of the tie will then go on to face either Seattle Sounders or Colorado Rapids in the MLS Cup in early December.
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