The Montreal Impact and Didier Drogba are denying reports the superstar striker is leaving the team.
L’Equipe, a reputed sports newspaper in France, has reported Drogba informed team president Joey Saputo of his retirement.
The team, however, denies Drogba said anything to Saputo about the matter.
Drogba himself also denied the report, tweeting Wednesday afternoon that he is not retiring and is still in talks with the Montreal MLS team.
Lovely to receive these messages but I have not yet announced my retirement & am still in discussion with @impactmontreal about my future.
— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) January 6, 2016
According to the French newspaper, the striker from Ivory Coast will join the Chelsea FC coaching staff in the English league.
L’Equipe was unclear whether compensation would be paid to the MLS if the rumour turns out to be true.
Reports surfaced before Christmas that Chelsea had submitted an offer Drogba.
Drogba, who wasted little time making his presence felt on and off the field after joining the Impact mid-season in 2015, has one more year remaining on his MLS contract.
The 37-year-old Drogba is a scoring sensation with 11 goals in 11 regular-season games, and adding another in Montreal's three-game trip into the playoffs after joining the Impact in July. He could not play for Chelsea while under contract to Montreal, but could leave for a job as an assistant coach or in a backroom role.
The Ivorian played for Chelsea from 2004 to 2012 and again in 2014-15, when he helped them win a fourth EPL championship. As well as a bag full of league and FA Cup titles, he scored the winning goal in the 2012 Champions League final.
Some feel the loss of Drogba's leadership played a part in the team's troubles this season and that bringing him back would boost morale and cohesion. Chelsea sits 15th in EPL standings with five wins, three draws and nine defeats, 20 points behind surprise leader Leicester.
The Impact open training camp Jan. 26.
With files from The Canadian Press
