Didier Drogba no longer open to playing in Serie A

Didier Drogba insists he has no intention of leaving Chelsea and says any rumours linking him with a move to Italy are "without foundation".

GettyImages

Drogba says Ancelotti is "one of the family" at Chelsea

Inter Milan and AC Milan were both known to be interested in Drogba, while it is believed Real Madrid considered making him one of their big signings this summer. However, the 31-year-old extended his contract at Stamford Bridge and has told Italian newspaper Tuttosport that he is no longer hoping to move to Serie A.

"I'm sorry but I'm staying here," he said. "I have just renewed my contract for another three seasons. It's true that, in the past, there was contact with two big Spanish clubs and two big Italian - sorry, Milanese - clubs.

"But now the rumours aren't true any more and they are without any foundation. Who knows? Maybe in 10 years, but I will be too old to play and maybe I could go as a coach."

Drogba, who revealed he is targeting a Premier League and Champions League double this season, also hailed new Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti for the way he has approached the job since joining from Milan.

"Carlo is one of us, a great person, one of the family," he said. "He arrived full of glory with a serious honours list of European and worldwide triumphs won with Milan.

"He could have brought with him an even more powerful staff, he could have changed or undone or done anything, he could have had detached relationships and only been professionally cool with the dressing room. Instead, he talked to us with clarity, simplicity and kindness, almost like a father. He didn't carry out revolutions, only several Italian style retouches and adjustments, and now the squad is flying.

"In attack, we are getting an avalanche of goals and we are really having a ball of a time. Yes, Ancelotti is the best and even he has said we can win everything."