FC Barcelona’s Cameroonian midfielder Alexandre Dimitri Song Billong (25) has been announced by the African Football Confederation to be one of three finalists for the 2012 African Player of the Year award. His competitors for the award are Didier Drogba (Shanghai Shenhua) and Touré Yaya (Manchester City).
The Sun, Rupert Murdoch-owned British tabloid, reports that Barca are considering to sign Chelsea forward Didier Drogba on a free transfer. The 34-year-old player from Ivory Coast, whose contract with the English club expires at the end of this season, was considered to be eyeing a move to China, United States or Milan even though Chelsea has offered him a two-year contract. But with Barca knocking on the doors, Drogba may reconsider given that Chelsea has to beat Bayern Munich at Allianz Arena to qualify for the Champions League next season as they only finished sixth in the Premier League behind Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspurs and Newcastle United.
According to The Sun, La Liga club is willing to offer Drogba a two-year deal worth up to £5 million a season to say goodbye to Chelsea and share the locker room with the likes of Messi, Xavi and Iniesta. The publication also cites an unnamed Barcelona source to lend authenticity to the exclusive. “What the team needs is an attacking player who has the presence and strength to trouble defenders,” says anonymous “Drogba has that profile and is one of the players the club are looking at.”
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba will be fit to take the field for Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final at the Camp Nou in Barcelona, despite reports to the contrary that surfaced last week. Drogba trained normally with his club on Sunday, after being rested for Chelsea’s weekend match with Arsenal, and will likely feature against Guardiola’s squad on Tuesday.
Image: Sport/AFP
Catalan sports paper Sport reports that Barcelona’s African duo, midfielders Seydou Keita (29) and Yaya Toure (26) are among five finalists for the 2009 African Footballer of the Year award, which is organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The three others nominees for the award are Chelsea forward and Ivorian international Didier Drogba (31), Chelsea midfielder and Ghanaian international Michael Essien (27) and former Barcelona player and Inter Milan forward Samuel Eto’o (28), who plays for Cameroon.
The great season of Barcelona echoes from the choices, since three of the nominees played for Barcelona in the last season. The winner will be announced 25th of February at the awards gala, and will be decided by the votes of the national federation selectors.
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