Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has revealed that he still curses the fact that he did not sign Didier Drogba seven years ago.
Drogba, now a leading light at Chelsea, was a virtual unknown whilst plying his trade in France with Le Mans, but did enough to interest Wenger who was told he could sign the Ivory Coast international for a bargain basement price of 100,000 pounds.
Despite Drogba's impressive displays in France, the Gunners boss felt the striker was some way off being the complete package, a decision that Wenger still rues to this day.
Wenger admits to Drogba mistake
"We watched Drogba very carefully when he was at Le Mans and his value was just 100,000 pounds," explained Wenger to The Sun newspaper.
"But we felt at the time he might not be completely ready.
"Sometimes when you watch a striker playing in a scrappy Championship game you can think ‘yes, he has something but... '
"And don't forget we had Thierry Henry at that time.
"We continued to follow his progress but suddenly he moved to Guingamp, then to the club of his dreams at Marseille and then on to Chelsea.
"Looking back now, of course it was a mistake.
"But it is not just us who now have regrets. There were a lot of other clubs watching him then."
Drogba, now a leading light at Chelsea, was a virtual unknown whilst plying his trade in France with Le Mans, but did enough to interest Wenger who was told he could sign the Ivory Coast international for a bargain basement price of 100,000 pounds.
Despite Drogba's impressive displays in France, the Gunners boss felt the striker was some way off being the complete package, a decision that Wenger still rues to this day.
Wenger admits to Drogba mistake
"We watched Drogba very carefully when he was at Le Mans and his value was just 100,000 pounds," explained Wenger to The Sun newspaper.
"But we felt at the time he might not be completely ready.
"Sometimes when you watch a striker playing in a scrappy Championship game you can think ‘yes, he has something but... '
"And don't forget we had Thierry Henry at that time.
"We continued to follow his progress but suddenly he moved to Guingamp, then to the club of his dreams at Marseille and then on to Chelsea.
"Looking back now, of course it was a mistake.
"But it is not just us who now have regrets. There were a lot of other clubs watching him then."
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