Drogba confirms l'OM stay

Didier Drogba has confirmed he will not be leaving Marseille despite being targeted by Juventus and several Premiership clubs.

The Marseille marksman, who is doubtful for the Uefa Cup final with Valencia due to a hip problem, is being considered by Juve as a possible replacement for David Trezeguet, who seems bound for Barcelona or Chelsea.

"There were beautiful propositions but, very sincerely, I want to win something with Marseille," he said. "I love this club.

"I have won individual trophies, not collective ones, and football is a collective sport.

"I have everything here. A golden coach and golden team-mates.

"Marseille support me and my family is fine here."

The 26-year-old is still fighting a race against time to be fit for Wednesday's clash with Valencia.

"If I play in this final, I will be happy," he told L'Equipe.

"I know I can play but I don't want to play with pain. I am not someone who is pessimistic but, with such pain, we will see.

"I don't want to be on the pitch at only 50 percent. Frankly, it is possible I could say to Jose Anigo I won't play.

"But I don't want people to think I give up on the team because it would be to the contrary, to not penalise them. However, there is a little improvement since last Friday.

"When I tried to kick the ball, it was horrible.

"It is difficult to prepare for a final with that worry in mind."

L'OM chairman Christophe Bouchet has explained he wants to keep Drogba at Stade Velodrome.

"You build a team around five or six great players," Bouchet affirmed. "We already have two - Fabien Barthez and Didier Drogba.

"So they are 'intransferable'. We could sell Drogba for ‚é¼30 million and only spend ‚é¼15 million in transfers. But that doesn't have any sense on both the sport and economic levels."