Drogba hints at Marseille return as he states intent to play on

Didier Drogba insists he has no intention of retiring from professional football and has admitted he still hopes to return to Marseille.

The Ivorian, now 38 and a free agent after leaving the Montreal Impact, joined Chelsea in 2004 after scoring 32 goals in a spectacular single season on the south coast of France.

He claims to have discussed a potential comeback with Marseille on multiple occasions since leaving but suggested the club hierarchy had not shown enough desire to make it happen.

As he considers his next move, however, Drogba revealed that a deal with an unspecified French club is already on the table.

"There is an option to return to France, but I will no say more," Drogba told Canal+. "I hope to be able to hold my promise one day [to return to Marseille]), it can be done. You just have to take the time to sit down and talk.

"My comeback at Marseille is the eternal question for more than 12 years now. Every time I respond, and people say I'm just talking. But you let a player go, and financially he is making a good living since then, and now you want him to come back and divide his salary in two?

"And after that, you say he doesn't like Marseille. Who works to earn less? No one.

"I would like to come back as a player. I even did what was necessary to make it happen. But I can't force the board to bring me back."

Despite his advancing years and a frustrating end to his time in Montreal, Drogba is confident he still has something to give to a club in Europe.

As he considers a potential future off it, however, he is also thinking about joining a club where he could progress into an off-the-field role when his playing days do come to an end.

"I want to play," he added. "I still have my legs and I'm still like a kid with the ball. My knee got a bit annoyed [last season] but I feel good.

"It would also allow me to create a smooth transition [into a post-playing career]."