Former Chelsea striker, Didier Drogba, says he already has an offer on the table from a French club but noted that his former club, Olympic Marseille, must show the willingness to bring him back.
The Chelsea legend noted that he has no intention of retiring from professional football yet.
The 38-year-old Ivorian, who is now a free agent after leaving the Major League Soccer side, Montreal Impact, moved to Stamford Bridge in 2004 after scoring 32 goals in a single season for Marseille.
He said he has made his decision to return to Marseille known to the club’s board on multiple occasions since leaving but suggested the club hierarchy had not shown enough willingness to bring him back.
He told Canal+, “There is an option to return to France, but I will not say more.
“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 age, and injury marred days at Montreal, the former Ivory Coast international still believes he has something to give to a club in Europe.
The player is also thinking about joining a club that could help him progress into a managerial role when his playing days are over.
Drogba added, “I want to play.
“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].”