CHINA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Shanghai Shenhua's new signing Nicolas Anelka is bullish about the prospects of former Chelsea teammate Didier Drogba joining him at his new club

Record ID: 872716

  • Title: CHINA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Shanghai Shenhua's new signing Nicolas Anelka is bullish about the prospects of former Chelsea teammate Didier Drogba joining him at his new club
  • Date: 17th February 2012
  • Summary: SHANGHAI, CHINA (FEBRUARY 16, 2012) (REUTERS) ( ** BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **) NEWS CONFERENCE TO UNVEIL SHANGHAI SHENHUA'S NEW SIGNING NICOLAS ANELKA ANELKA'S IMAGE ON SCREEN ANELKA BEING INTRODUCED ON STAGE ANELKA WALKING OUT ANELKA WAVING TO CROWD
  • Embargoed: 3rd March 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China, China
  • City:
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA9V4NQVRAWGTB16FW0MGP27YPE
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  • Story Text: Shanghai Shenhua's new signing Nicolas Anelka was unveiled to the media on Thursday (February 16) at a glitzy ceremony in Shanghai - and said he hoped he would soon be joined in China by former team-mate Didier Drogba.
    The French striker was making his first public appearance in China's financial capital since joining the Chinese Super League side on a two-year deal from Chelsea Football Club.
    When asked who he would like to share the front line with at his new club, Anelka opted for Drogba.
    "As for my new striker partner, I do not want to say too much but I personally would like to see Drogba join Shanghai Shenhua," he said.
    Anelka added that he had spoken with the Ivorian and expected Drogba to join him in Shanghai.
    "Yes, I am frequently in contact with him," he said. "If all things go smoothly, he should be joining us. But of course, for all this, the final decision is made by the club's boss and investor."
    Drogba, heading back to Chelsea after his national side lost the African Nations Cup final to Zambia, is coming towards the end of his Premier League career and reports have said the 33-year-old could leave London in June.
    Anelka, 32, was a major coup for Shanghai and the Chinese League, which unlike ambitious leagues in UAE and the United States has struggled to recruit former top players from Europe. Anelka said the reason he chose to join a Chinese team was that he was drawn to Asian culture.
    "I like the Asian way of thinking," he said.
    "I like the Chinese way of thinking. This is why I chose Asia and why I chose China despite having two other choices of places to move to. I would like to explore and understand China while I am here."
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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