Nicolas Anelka solved Chelsea's current striker crisis after completing his £15m move from Bolton Wanderers last week, but the transfer only served to compound fears that Didier Drogba would be leaving in the summer.The Ivorian striker appears to have become unsettled since José Mourinho's departure in September, and has voiced several times through the French press his desire to find a new club.
Chelsea Partnership
But Anelka believes that Chelsea are the right team for Drogba, and says he will attempt to convince the Ivorian to stay once he returns from African Nations duty.
"I think when he comes back I will speak with him because he doesn't know anything about what happens when you leave England, said Anelka, who twice left the British Isles for Spain and then Turkey.
"I know because I did it and I know when I was outside of England and the Premier League it was hard. I would tell him to stay because he will not find what he has at Chelsea and in England anywhere else.
"I spoke with him yesterday and I told him I'm looking forward to playing with him," continued the former Arsenal and Real Madrid man. "I don't know what he thinks about his future but I will tell him to stay and we can be good together.
Leaving Isn't The Answer
"I [left] before, I know what happened in my life. I will speak to him and try to explain what happens when you leave. He is a big star in England and a big star in Chelsea and everybody loves him. It's up to him if he decides to leave - what can you do? - but I will tell him not to."
Age Factor
Another factor that would hinder Drogba's ability to ever return, says Anelka, is his age. "He's 29 I think and if he wants to come back it's going to be very difficult. I [left] when I was 20 so I could come back," the Frenchman added. "He's nearly 30, so if he signs somewhere and he regrets it, it's very difficult to come back.
No Arsenal Regrets
Yet despite his plea for Drogba to remain in England, the French international remains adamant that his big money move from Arsenal to Real Madrid was the right step to take. "I don't regret leaving Arsenal, I knew what I had to do," revealed Anelka.
"When Real Madrid come to you, it's difficult to say no. You never know what will happen in your future. I did what I had to do and I'm just happy because I won the Champions League. I have no regrets. Life is like that."
Not A Sulker
Often branded 'Le Sulk' earlier in his career for his moody nature and frequent transfer requests, Anelka says the tag was never justified and that he always has been a calm and quiet player. "It was more outside of football than football," he commented.
"People were talking about my character. I think it was wrong because if you ask all the players I played with they would never say anything wrong about me. I don't like to speak too much. Maybe people thought it was arrogance or something but I was very young and couldn't speak good English so it was very difficult for me."
Anelka could make his full Chelsea debut in this weekend's league match at Birmingham City
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