The Ivory Coast striker recently signed for Shaghai Shenhua on a free transfer from Chelsea, and is hoping to raise the profile of the game as the midfielder has done in America
Didier Drogba is hoping his move to Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua can help to raise interest in football in the country in a similar way to the impact David Beckham has had on the game in the USA.Drogba recently agreed two-and-a-half year deal reportedly worth £200,000 per-week to play in China after his Chelsea contract expired, and will link up with former Blues teammate Nicolas Anelka.
After scoring a crucial equaliser and the winning penalty in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich, some felt he could have continued to play at the highest level, but the 34-year-old explained that he wanted a new challenge.
"It was a professional decision based on what I have done for the last eight years with Chelsea and what I did in Europe," Drogba told reporters.
"I think it was the right time to go to a different continent because as I've said before I love to travel. It's a challenge. People say: 'Chinese football is not so good'.
"Maybe it's a bit ambitious as a reference point to take David Beckham, but people were saying when he went to America [to join LA Galaxy] that it was not a good move.
"What he has done for the MLS - the publicity - it has no price. So that is why I am going there [China] as well. I want to do something good for Chinese football. I want to help them grow and develop."
