Report: Didier Drogba Could Join FC Barcelona From Chelsea in Summer Switch

Didier Drogba could add a new dimension to an already-potent FC Barcelona attack. The Chelsea star is likely to leave the Blues at the end of the season, and Barcelona is ready to offer him a new home, according to Sport 360.

"… A move to Catalonia could now be in the offing for the former Marseille hitman, with Barcelona-based daily Mundo Deportivo claiming Barca sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta is exploring the possibility of bringing Drogba to the Camp Nou," the report says.

"A one-year deal with an option for a further 12 months is said to be on the table for Drogba, who has scored three times in his last six outings against his potential future employers, with Mundo Deportivo claiming Drogba has privately expressed his desire to move to the club."

Drogba's will be one of the most-watched transfer sagas in the coming months. The 34-year-old striker rejected a one-year deal Chelsea offered him in November, as he reportedly wants a two-year contract.

It's unlikely Chelsea will meet his demands. After a highly successful eight-year stay, Drogba's time at Stamford Bridge looks like it is coming to a close.

Barcelona got a first-hand look of what the Ivorian striker can bring to a club in its recent UEFA Champions League semifinal defeat against Chelsea. Drogba scored the only goal in the first leg. In the second, he gave a yeoman's effort in defense, helping to repel wave after wave of Barcelona attack.

Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola is stepping down at the end of the season, handing the reigns to Tito Vilanova. The storied club will continue to compete for honors, and Drogba's addition could help it recover the La Liga and Champions League titles it surrendered this season.

Drogba's physical style of play, theatrics and winning mentality delight supporters and frustrate opponents. The team that signs him will land itself a world soccer icon, who will bring legions of supporters to his new destination.

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Photo via Flickr/Ben Sutherland