05 July 2023 , 10:20
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Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has broken his silence on Mason Mount's departure from the club just two months after he issued a scathing assessment of Blues owner Todd Boehly.
Mount's move to Manchester United was announced on Wednesday morning, but the England international took it upon himself to confirm he will be leaving Chelsea on Tuesday night with a short video message uploaded to his Instagram profile. Mount stopped short of declaring his next destination in the video and instead chose to focus on his highlights in west London.
Replies to the video flooded in, but Drogba's stood out given his own status as a Chelsea hero. The Ivorian icon uploaded the short clip to his own story alongside the caption: "Another prince leaving the club of his life. Thank you and all the very best to you, champs," accompanied with a hashtag that read "#oneofourowncfc."
Drogba's comments seem lathered in disappointment that Chelsea are about to bid farewell to one of the most talented players to emerge from their academy set-up.
This wouldn't be the first time Drogba has been left frustrated at the actions of those running the club nowadays, with the former Blues striker brutal in his review of the Chelsea owners following elimination from the Champions League back in April.
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"I knew this club with a certain class during the Abramovich era, but today I find it lacking. It’s very hard for me to see how they got rid of certain people," Drogba blasted at the time. "They should go back to the principles and values they had.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Is Drogba fair in his assessment of Chelsea's owners? Comment below
Mason Mount is now a Manchester United player, much to the frustration of Didier Drogba"I don’t recognise my club. It’s no longer the same club, There is a new owner and a new vision. Of course, we try to compare it with what happened during the [Roman] Abramovich era where a lot of players were brought in, but the decisions were very intelligent."
Drogba later went on to issue perhaps his most damning remark when he claimed: "They lack charismatic leaders. You need players that take on the game, that assume their responsibilities. You need a player that brings a bit of madness to the stadium."
The comments take on new meaning now given Chelsea have just lost one of the few players in their side that could be considered someone they could rely on both as a leader and as someone that could change the game for them.
Mount's move to Old Trafford is one that does not reflect well on Chelsea, with the midfielder still yet to hit his prime and yet has already been nabbed by a direct Premier League rival.
The Blues had tried to negotiate a new deal with their academy graduate for some time as his contract ticked down, but Mount's demands were not met and as a result, he'll be lining up in the red of United next term.
Drogba's frustration at his exit and at the owners will surely only increase as Mount settles in at Old Trafford, but it is up to Boehly to ensure the Blues bounce back from this latest blow.