Didier Drogba gets a rockstar welcome in China
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Hundreds of fans gathered at Pudong International Airport to welcome Didier Drogba on his much-anticipated arrival on Saturday to join Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua.
The former Chelsea striker was met by a huge crowd of supporters chanting his name at the airport's arrival hall.
Then, after Drogba was chaperoned through the airport to the outside, hundreds more supporters surrounded a chauffeured car waiting to take him to his club's ground.
And even after he drove off, the airport party continued as the swarm of supporters stood in the middle of the road and went on signing.
"Let me tell you something, now we have Drogba, Shanghai is not a common city anymore, Shanghai is a world mega-city now," one fan, Lu Xiaobo, told AFP.
The 34-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the big-spending club for a reported salary of £200,000 a week.
"I didn't come here with the idea of making a lot of money," Drogba told reporters after his unveiling.
"I come here because it is a completely different challenge from what I have seen in Europe before.
"I know China is a great sports country so for me it was also a big challenge. It could have been easy for me to stay in Europe and go to another team, another big team."
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| Former Chelsea star Didier Drogba waves to his fans upon his arrival in Shanghai Photo: AP |
The former Chelsea striker was met by a huge crowd of supporters chanting his name at the airport's arrival hall.
Then, after Drogba was chaperoned through the airport to the outside, hundreds more supporters surrounded a chauffeured car waiting to take him to his club's ground.
And even after he drove off, the airport party continued as the swarm of supporters stood in the middle of the road and went on signing.
"Let me tell you something, now we have Drogba, Shanghai is not a common city anymore, Shanghai is a world mega-city now," one fan, Lu Xiaobo, told AFP.
The 34-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the big-spending club for a reported salary of £200,000 a week.
"I didn't come here with the idea of making a lot of money," Drogba told reporters after his unveiling.
"I come here because it is a completely different challenge from what I have seen in Europe before.
"I know China is a great sports country so for me it was also a big challenge. It could have been easy for me to stay in Europe and go to another team, another big team."
Related links:
Personal
Also see:
- Didier Drogba's goal gives Gary Neville another scoregasm
- Didier Drogba stars in music video for ex-porn star Julia Channel
- New Pepsi ad featuring Agüero, Drogba, Lampard, Messi, Torres & Wilshere
- Pic of the day: Roberto Di Matteo shares kiss Didier Drogba
- Peekaboo with diving Didier Drogba and Sergio Busquets
