Rooney names Didier Drogba as ‘perfect number nine’
Former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney has hailed Chelsea legend Didier Drogba as ‘ a perfect number nine’ , suggesting that if Drogba were playing today, he would command an astronomical transfer fee.
Drogba, who joined Chelsea for £24 million in 2004, is regarded as one of the Premier League’s greatest strikers, having played a key roles in the Blues’ success.
Rooney, speaking on the Premier League’s official YouTube channel, reminisced about facing Drogba during his playing days and highlighted the Ivorian’s exceptional qualities as a forward.
“He was a nightmare for defenders, ” Rooney said.
” When you talk about number nines now and you look at Haaland, probably the best two is Haaland and Kane, or the only two.
” They’re so difficult to find now and I think Drogba is the perfect number nine. He had pace, power, could score with both feet, could head it, free-kicks. If Drogba was around now he’d be worth a lot of money,” Rooney remarked.
Drogba’s impact at Chelsea was immense, guiding the team to multiple Premier League titles and clinching the Champions League with crucial goals, including a memorable header and penalty in the UCL final win over Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in 2012.
The Ivorian’s versatility, power, and ability to perform on the biggest stages earned him acclaim as one of the best forwards in English football history.
Rooney’s praise reaffirms Drogba’s status as a formidable striker, with few players today possessing the same skill set and impact as the Chelsea legend.
Drogba scored 157 goals in 341 appearances in his first eight-year spell at Chelsea and added another seven in 40 when he returned for a second stint.
The legendary forward has since retired from active football and is now shooting for goal from outside the pitch and recently celebrated AFCON success with his native Cote d’Ivoire.
